I DON'T remember ever seeing the members of Kidderminster Male Choir giving their guests a standing ovation, but that is what happened on Saturday night.

The Sirens, aka Janine Smith (piano), Dawn Foxall (mezzo) and Diana Sharp (soprano), totally enchanted not only their hosts, but the entire audience, with their terrific personalities, and wonderful singing.

This entire concert was one of the best ever heard in the town hall, and the choir's new musical director, David Barcley, making his debut appearance, was also a great success, his smile endearing him to the audience immediately - and he is obviously a great sport, as he ended up as one of the "Three Little Maids from School"!

The "men in red" were in great form, opening with the March of the Peers from Iolanthe, and including an excellent, new arrangement, of If I were a Rich Man from Fiddler on the Roof, a beautiful, gentle song called Timeless Moment, and members of the audience were obviously itching to join in Do You Hear the People Sing from Les Miserables. The men encored with the ever-popular Alexander's Ragtime Band.

The Sirens' selection of solos and duets included everyone's favourite female duet, Flower Duet from Lakme, Ode to Champagne from Die Feldermaus, and members of the choir particularly enjoyed I Prefer the Handsome Fair One.

The ladies were resplendent in top hat and tails for a Gershwin Medley, and I have never heard them sing A Boy Like That from West Side Story so well.

My favourite solo from Dawn was Bewitched, by Richard Rodgers, and for Diana - O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi.

Guest artistes do not usually get asked for an encore, but the audience insisted on this occasion, and the ladies sang Rossini's Cat Duet.

What a great concert. VJS