THE second orchestral concert of the Singapore Sun Festival was an intimate affair, with chamber forces of the Russian National Orchestra (RNO) taking centre stage with American violinist Pinchas Zukerman serving dual roles as violin soloist and conductor.

Despite adopting a rather modest, self-effacing, almost hangdog-like demeanor on stage, he commanded a rosy, full-bodied tone on his violin in the three concertos that comprised the first half. Close one's eyes and the impression of a young member from the Kosher Nostra, the band of Jewish-American violinists that included Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman, comes to mind.

This apparent youth emanated from a handsome vibrato and dynamic range, most evident in the Bach Violin Concerto In E Major, a masterpiece that exhibited all the qualities of musicianship despite its slender length. The slow movement was long-breathed, delicate but not precious, heart-rending but not sentimental.

Vivaldi's second most popular of his 500-plus concertos, Autumn From The Four Seasons, opened the concert with a familiar ring. A special treat was the rarely heard Double Concerto For Violin And Cello In B Flat Major, where cellist Amanda Forsyth's radiant entries echoed Zukerman's own, and together merged with perfect concord.

Mozart's sunny Symphony No. 36 in cheery C major or 'The Linz' was perhaps an ideal vehicle for the Sun Festival. The orchestra responded with characteristic good spirit, from its well-weighted introduction to the spirited main body of the first movement, replete with its cheeky quote of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus.

The chamber-sized orchestra played with refinement in the slow movement.

If only there had been a bit more fire in the belly of the quicksilver finale, it would have been close to perfect.

It was a short concert with no encores, but this was a matter of sheer quality counting more than mere quantity.