PACO PEÑA - A COMPÁS! PRIMAL PULSE, CITY HALL

TEMPERATURES soared on Friday night in more ways than one, as master flamenco guitarist Paco Peña returned to Salisbury with his new show, Primal Pulse - an appropriate name, as it turned out, such was the high-octane energy effused from dancers and musicians alike.

This was a breathtaking, spine-tingling demonstration of both traditional flamenco dance and music, performed to a capacity festival audience that was left simply stunned by the artistry on show.

It is difficult to do this show justice, such was the flawless expertise of all the performers under Peña's direction. Unfortunately there were no details of performers' names given, but then all the communication necessary took place on stage, which was stripped bare, save for a few chairs for Peña and his musicians.

The dancers said it all with their smouldering looks and gestures, the rustle of a ruffled skirt and hands curved around bodies, and the complexity of the dances left the audience gasping for more.

For one number, Peña and his lady dancer, simply sat face to face, he with guitar, she with castanets. Their language was flamenco.

- Anne Morris