With an 'all Wagner' programme, the brass section of the Chandos, with conductor Michael Lloyd and leader Edward Bale, were given a field day.

A superb unison string beginning to Prelude to Parsifal set the standard for the evening. Sombre woodwind and trumpets, instilled an atmosphere of severity, until agitation, theatrical pauses and sturdy statements from trombones and horns deepened the sorrowful mood.

In Prelude und Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, the prelude was imbued with sensuous passion. The cellos had some differences of intonation in their ranks occasionally, noticeable at the start particularly. Orchestral texture, and fine horn playing as the Chandos worked to an ecstatic climax, then died away, was most effective.

Dramatic soprano Tamsin Dives was the impressive soloist for the Liebestod. As her impassioned love transported her to the utmost bliss while she gazed on her love, the instrumental forces reached a stupendous crash. Dives voice had soared in a powerful interpretation.

The Chandos epitomised the Ride of the Valkyries, as the wild maidens rushed through storm clouds, magnificent brass, percussion and agitating strings charging to the end.

Wotan's Farewell continued the saga with Andrew Greenham (bass-baritone) the splendid soloist, who produced glorious tone as he sang in long legato lines. A more subdued orchestral section was an oasis before a surge of anger, as the singer and brass reached a wrathful conclusion.

Siegfried's Rhine Journey contained numerous notable fragments, including special Wagner horns with timpani, dramatising the Funeral March.

Tamsin Dives was soloist again in Brunnhilde's Immolation Scene, demonstrating once more her capacity of breath support as she competed with and surpassed the large orchestra. The closing bars were endowed with great beauty: strings and Wagner horns created their own particular timbre, brass and harps merged at the last.

This ambitious programme was steered adeptly by Michael Lloyd, and the dedicated orchestral members met that challenge admirably.

Jill Hopkins