There wasn't a seat to spare in Sage Gateshead's Hall One for Royal Northern Sinfonia's latest concert in the Classic FM series - one of the key attractions being violinist Jennifer Pike, playing the ever-popular Bruch Violin Concerto.

The youngest winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year at the age of 12 and already a veteran of the stage at 24, Pike was a picture of calm composure as she negotiated this pinnacle of the repertoire.

The opening song had form and character, shaped with wonderful phrasing, as the RNS provided sensitive and supportive accompaniment.

The adagio with its soaring melodies was invested with an aching poignancy, while a feisty finale brought the house down.

As an encore, Pike played a soothing Sarabande from JS Bach's Partita No 2.

The other star of the evening was the young Venezuelan conductor Christian Vasquez, who brought pizzazz and an infectious enthusiasm to the podium.

Rossini's; Overture to The Barber of Seville was carefully measured, with Vasquez building up the tension and released it with exquisite timing in thrilling crescendos.

His account of Faure's Pelleas et Melisanda Suite, was finely nuanced as he drew out the subtlest of shadings.

A magical touch was provided by the oboe singing out against muted strings, imitating the sound of a spinning wheel.

The audience was stirred from any reveries by a spirited rendition of Falla's Three-Cornered Hat, Suite No 1; depicting a tale of hot-blooded passion. jealously and intrigue.

Vasquez turned up the heat to boiling point with a pulsating performance of Falla's Ritual Fire Dance from El Amor Brujo.

The post-concert Spotlight fell on RNS principal horn Chris Griffiths and guest pianist Ollie Rundell, performing Hindemith's Sonata for Horn and Piano.

Hindemith is an acquired taste, Griffiths observed. It's a taste well-worth acquiring after hearing their compelling argument for it.