The British Music Society of York’s 93rd concert series continued on Friday with a thoroughly entertaining recital by celebrated Australian guitarist Craig Ogden.

His eclectic programme showcased twentieth century and contemporary gems alongside classics of the Baroque and Spanish repertories.

Baroque transcription was the departure point for each half. The first began with a trio of Domenico Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas, the second with excerpts from Bach's Lute Suite (transcriptions of the third Partita for violin). In all, Ogden conveyed the smoothness and subtlety of every line with lucid agility.

One such gem was Canto by John McCabe, composed in 1968. Its diverse techniques and complex harmonies conjured a mercurial intensity of incessant torrents, rising from and retreating to a timid melancholy.

The vigorous, folk-influenced Walk Dance by Serbian guitarist Miroslav Tadic? was similarly engaging.

Slight slips in the otherwise mesmerising Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tárrega aside, the unremitting vitality of Ogden’s fast-paced renditions of Spanish classics was remarkable. Joaquín Turina’s Sonata in D minor contrasted muscular urgency with reflective spaciousness, while Sevilla and Asturias from Isaac Albéniz's Suite Española were finessed and suave.

Light relief followed in pieces by British guitarist Gary Ryan. Lough Caragh was full of longing, Rondo Rodeo full of fun.

In between items, Ogden showed his warm, charismatic personality, regaling the appreciative audience with humorous anecdotes on tuning, technique and fingernail maintenance. He closed with a relaxing arrangement of Django Reinhardt’s Nuages – a well-received encore after a dazzlingly and assuredly proficient performance.

- James Whittle