Audience enthralled by star Lloyd Webber

Julian Lloyd Webber returned to Ludlow last night to give a beautiful and impressive cello concert in St Laurence's Church as part of the Ludlow Festival.

Dressed informally in an untucked white shirt, he played exquisitely from memory for nearly an hour and a half and was expertly accompanied by pianist Pam Chowhan.

Chatting to the audience between each piece, he was engaging from start to finish. He said: "It's a great pleasure to be here in such a wonderful part of Britain on such a lovely evening."

Playing on a Stradivarius cello more than 300 years old, he produced a wonderfully pure tone.

The highlights of the evening were a powerfully moving performance of Elegie by Fauré and the two encores.

Playing the last piece, Variation on a theme by Paganini, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, he said: "There's another member of the family who has been known to compose. This is the only piece of cello music I know that was written as a result of a bet on a football match.

"It was written by Andrew before he metamorphosed into Simon Cowell."

By Hannah Costigan