Last updated 05:13, Friday, 24 October 2008

Dalston Male Voice Choir, Wigton Road Methodist Church, CarlisleAn appreciative audience shared the melody, rhythm and sheer exuberance of the sound of Dalston Male Voice Choir .

The choir quickly established the mood of each song, using tone, clear diction and a ready response to the expressive signals of their skilful and enthusiastic conductor Hilary Hodgson, with the sympathetic support of their competent accompanist Lorraine Gash.

In Watching the Wheat the choir painted a picture of landscape in sun and rain and evoked the many emotions in the song. The programme included two medleys, an African Trilogy and three Maori songs specially arranged for this choir, starting with a Haka performed with ferocious energy and enthusiasm.

The audience also enjoyed hearing the choir’s very talented young guest artistes, Carlisle King and Katrina Evans, play Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Trumpets and Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto, accompanied on piano by Andrew Walker.

The Rev John Mason thanked everyone involved and presented flowers to Hilary and Lorraine. Then the choir treated us to a final gift, a brief offer of peace in ‘Shalom, my friend’ sung unaccompanied and dying away into the softest, gentlest music of the evening - a fitting farewell.

KATHLEEN MOORE