WHEN five members of the string section of the Northern Sinfonia played for the Kendal Midday Concert Club, a memorable concert resulted.

Bradley Creswick, the effervescent leader, brought with him fellow first violinist Jonathan Storer, principal viola Michael Gerrard and front desk cellists Alexander Somov and Rosie Biss.

Their musicianship is so refined that it is rarely apparent that they, perhaps, do not play together in public all that frequently in chamber ensembles. The all-Schubert programme - Quartettsatz in C minor, D. 703 and String Quintet in C, D.956 gave the players a wealth of opportunities to display both their collective and individual skills.

Each of these magnificent and demanding works requires a thorough understanding of its overall architecture and also the structure of individual movements. The performance of the Quintet's lengthy slow movement, for example, demonstrated that the players do possess that understanding it was sublime.

Elsewhere, richly intense tone for climactic moments, delicate hardly audible pian-issimos, unanimity of phrasing, awareness of internal balance, strong rhythmic cohesion and, most clearly, a desire to project the genius that is Schubert's all were continuously there.

Individually, each player possesses a fine technique (there was some marvellous bow control on view), has delectable tone - although initially it took a little time for the leader to settle - blends effectively with partners and is able to assert in a solo role whenever and wherever Schubert's luxurious melodies appear.

Brian Paynes.