Where Wales leads, London follows.

That was true at this lunchtime recital by international organ virtuoso Thomas Trotter, who ended his programme with Julius Reubke’s formidable Sonata in C minor, based on Psalm 94.

Trotter will be including it next week at a concert to mark the restoration of the organ at the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank in London. He announced that he hadn’t played it for a while so was giving it a ‘dry run’ in Cardiff.

The RFH instrument is older than the 30-year-old one at St David’s Hall, which has had its detractors.

But if anyone can show it at its best, it’s Trotter, a performer as zippily-fingered as he is assertive, both qualities to the fore in his Cardiff ‘workout’ for a piece both melodramatic - there’s much use of the diminished 7th - and contemplative.

In parts it’s also pianistic, which suited Trotter’s light but sure touch, as did the opening Fantasia in F minor by Mozart.

The central item, Peter Hurford’s Laudate Dominum suite, is as eclectic as they come but Trotter’s interest was as a musician beholden to the composer-organist for his support and encouragement. Hurford is a former president of the Royal College of Organists, which this year is celebrating its 150th anniversary.

It was a change to hear an organ recital making do without potboilers and more impressively familiar works, but from Reubke’s gothic heights one must needs descend to ground level. What else but Moszkowski’s Serenata as an encore?

The recital was given in association with Cardiff Organ Events, formed in 1988 as a non-profitmaking, promotional venture. The St David's Hall organ, as well as church instruments in and around the capital, has been included in its activities since it began.

For more information, email cardifforganevents@gmail,.com or write, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope, to Cardiff Organ Events, 40 St Augustine Road, Heath, Cardiff, CF14 4BE.