The fact that this choir had not arrived in Malvern when the concert was due to start, mattered not one bit, as the evening's guest artist, soprano Susan Black, stepped in to sing two operatic arias: Puccini's O my beloved father and Habanera by Bizet.

The men of the Treorchy Choir began by singing in Welsh that glorious hymn Llanfair, setting the tone for the evening's fervent choral music.

This was followed by several well-known numbers including The Holy City, with baritone soloist Ray Daniels, and The Slaves' Chorus, which began quietly restrained before the rich blend of voices crescendoed to a climax. Myfanwy, an all-time favourite love song, lingered on those gorgeous subtle harmonies and long last chord.

More modern arrangements were heard too: Memory from Cats and My Heart Will Go On from the film Titanic were expressive and emotional.

A notably beautiful item was the traditional Unwaith Eto'n, with a lovely young tenor Dean Powell as soloist singing against a background of harmonic humming.

Conductor Andrew Badham led the choir, singing entirely from memory, with their versatile accompanist Jan Ball through often complex arrangements with aplomb.

Susan Black accompanied ably by Carole Davies, sang various other solos embracing Gershwin's Summertime, with some lovely top notes (especially the last one!), and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Pie Jesu, sung with admirable control.

This concert was a great treat, particularly for exiles from the Principality, of which there were a number in the capacity audience.

Jill Hopkins