I have lived in Oxford for 40 years, worked at the University (on and off) for 30 and have been reviewing for Daily Info for over a decade. And yet, I am still delighted when I get to visit a new venue, and the Chapel on St Giles was no exception yesterday, proving to be the perfect setting for Emmanuel Sowicz’s classical guitar recital, Contemplations. Excellent acoustics, as Emmanuel himself acknowledged, but I also found the room a simple, light, unpretentious performance space.

I find nowadays most classical guitar performances are incomplete without a soupcon of Bach, and yesterday’s event opened with a bold choice in the familiar 'Prelude, Fugue and Allegro BWV 998', performed with alacrity and flare. This was followed by Barrios’ 'La Catedral', whose playing easily reached the expectations I had of this rendition of one of my favourite pieces. For me Latin American classical guitar music has an exotic power and charm.

As it turned out, I was the one in desperate need of contemplation time – life has been turbulent, chaotic and challenging recently - and half way through the first of Sowicz’s interpretations of Fernando Sor’s 'Etudes', I suddenly remembered how much my stepfather, who died recently, loved classical guitar and how we had almost suffered heat stroke a summer long ago trying to listened to a John Williams concert in the Sheldonian. I fear the odd tear rolled down my cheek during the ensuing interval.

The second half opened with the show-piece of the recital, 'The Quadrivium Suite', a new composition by St Hilda’s student, Alessandro Loro, in its first full performance by Emmanuel, for whom it was composed. It was noticeable in the acuity and aplomb with which the four pieces (Geometry, Arithmetic, Music and Astronomy) were delivered. I particularly enjoyed the flare and verve with which Sowicz played the whole instrument; left hand strolling up and down fret board exploiting a wide range of tones, with the right hand roaming from the neck to the bridge and ultimately breaking out to play high up toward the nut.

And to wrap up the recital, we were treated to a display of classical guitar prowess across a range of music and across continents from Taki’s 'This Place', through Albeniz’s 'Catalonia' to remote Stromness and a most welcome encore. I am certainly looking forward to hearing further collaborations between Sowicz and Loro, and shall be looking out for further music at The Chapel with its gorgeous acoustics and calm air of contemplation.