GARRY Magee (baritone) and Susie Allen (piano) gave a distinguished recital: Magee, a relatively young singer, although he has an impressive record of achievements already, has a rare gift: he communicates with the whole audience all the time.

Without bodily gestures, his multi-coloured voice, natural facial expression, and easy eye contact say everything.

His exceptionally well rounded and produced voice has an evenly complete range.

With his accomplished and sensitive accompanist, they formed a mutually comfortable partnership together.

The programme of late 19th and 20th Century English songs suited the artistes admirably, and with a committed understanding of the poetry, meaningful interpretations were given.

Among many especially enlightening expressions, Butterworth's Bredon Hill had an illuminating final phrase of I hear you on a long high note.

In Vaughan Williams' song cycle Songs of Travel the singer's extensive breath control in the last verses All I ask ... was amazing. In the same cycle's Let Beauty Awake the atmosphere created by the piano's rippling accompaniment, combined with the long cantabile vocal lines, was spell binding.

The last note of The Infinite Shining Heavens was elegantly sung and given a subito diminuendo.

A group of Finzi songs were further evidence of Magee's vocal mastery.

Allen's accompaniment of complex tempi and rhythms against Magee's legato vocal lines were exemplary.

Without doubt, there was a special ambience as Magee sang Gurney's lyrical I will go with my father a-ploughing, and during the atmospheric Sleep, as the music was performed beneath the Gurney window.

Songs by John Ireland and Granville Bantock were included in the programme also, and the encore was a notable reading of Vaughan Williams' Silent Noon.

Magee imparts his message eloquently, an instinctive artiste who promises a career of some magnitude.