Likable violinist Ray Chen, 25, has room to grow in his sound

Ray Chen, an immensely gifted young violinist from Australia, made a successful debut on the Washington Performing Arts Society's prestigious recital series Thursday evening at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater. In a fairly narrow program of Mozart (the K. 305 Sonata), Beethoven (the "Kreutzer" Sonata) and four Pablo de Sarasate showpieces, he charmed the large crowd with silken virtuosity and winning personality, drawing vociferous ovations with every number.