Conductor Andrew Nethsingha steered the Festival Chorus and the Philharmonia Orchestra through two of Handel's Coronation Anthems.
The King Shall Reign began brightly with trumpets sounding, and Exceeding Glad Shall He Be had an easy lilt in the chorus and strings.
The other anthem Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened, sounded rather four-square at the start. However, the music took off for the Alleluias.
Michael George (bass) was soloist in Bach's Cantata No.82 accompanied by strings, small organ, and lead oboist Gordon Hunt, playing virtuoso obligatos in two of the arias.
After the interval the choir and orchestra were joined by soloists Emma Kirby (soprano), Robin Blaze (Counter Tenor), John Bowley (tenor) and Michael George to perform Haydn's Missa in Angustiis (Nelson Mass).
Emma's coloratura episodes in conjunction with the chorus, and Robin's fine introduction to Agnus Dei, the excellent blend of soloists in fragments of quartet, and some robust choral part singing, with secure entries by the gentlemen particularly - even though the speed was excessively fast - attributed to this performance. Jill Hopkins
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