ANYONE who did not enjoy Saturday's concert must be very hard to please.

We enjoyed a relaxed evening of music-making, featuring not only our Valentines, but the Blaenavon Male Choir, Russell Painter and Jonathan French.

The men did well to get through the difficult Dana Dana by Kodaly, and it was the first time I had heard a choral version of Anthem from Chess. The highlight of their section was Working Man, the solo taken by musical director, Gareth Whitcombe.

Mr Painter was supreme as always, with his usual mixture of serious music and fun, including Bring Him Home, from Les Mis and the Major General's song from Pirates of Penzance. Looking every inch an inebriated England supporter, Mr Painter staggered onto the stage and treated us to an item from Albert Herring by Britten, then minutes later was singing Gounod's Ave Maria.

Jonathan French played better than the last time I saw him, giving a wonderful piano version of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No2.

The Valentines's selection included a traditional Welsh air, arranged by accompanist Morfudd Sinclair, who duetted with MD Pam Cunningham's daughter, Alison, and we heard the sublime Georgia on my Mind and ended with a selection from Les Mis.

A note to compere Mark Develin -once the audience has been told an envelope is to put money in for charity, they do not need reminding every few minutes.

VJS