YOU didn't have to be a football fan to see a winning performance from Spain this weekend.

The day before Torres, Fabregas and friends were crowned kings of Europe in Vienna, there was another truly majestic Spanish display - this time at Lancaster's Ashton Hall.

Young clarinettist Maximiliano Martin stole the show at the Haffner Orchestra's latest performance.

Max's growing reputation came before him. Charismatic seemed to be one of the main words being used.

After this enthralling, ebullient performance of Weber's Clarinet Concerto Number One, how about "flamboyant" and "gripping."

You couldn't take your eyes off him. Even when he wasn't actually playing, he was performing. Living the music.

He left the stage to huge applause. In the interval, copies of his CDs seemed to sell like the proverbial hot cakes.

But - as ever with the Haffner - this was no one man show. The audience also enjoyed Ravel's Pavane pour une Infant Defunte and the night had begun with Saint-Saen's Danse Macabre. A piece familiar to millions as the theme to TV's Jonathan Creek.

The evening ended with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.4. - a powerful, almost physical performance skilfully held together by conductor Natalia Luis-Bassa.

Remember to watch out for Natalia on BBC2 soon as she teaches a celebrity how to conduct in the new series Maestro.

And if you get a chance to see Maximiliano Martin in action, please don't miss him.

Tim Padfield.