Entertainment

Croydon Bach Choir, under the benign guidance of conductor Tim Horton and pianist William Munks, began this concert with Vaughan William's beautiful "Serenade to Music", based on the discussion on music by Lorenzo in Act five, Scene one, of the Merchant of Venice. This version had four solists from within the choir, which indicates the depth of talent among its members.

Adam Tunnicliffe (tenor) gave us songs by Finzi and Britten and an outstanding one by Bridge "When You Are Old".

Rebecca Watts (violin) and Tim Horton (piano) played a precise and elegant "The Lark Ascending" by Vaughan Williams. Inspired by a poem by George Meredith, the composer finely portrays the lark both in flight and in song.

After the interval the violin soloist sparkled with No's. 2 and 3 from Coleridge-Taylor's "Four African Dances".

Hiawatha's Wedding Feast is part of the American poet Longfellow's great poem of that name, and which Samuel Coleridge-Taylor set to music. The choir sang this lyrical feast with great feeling and tenor Adam Tunnicliffe gave a rousing "Onaway! Awake beloved".

Up to the Second World War this piece rivalled in popularity with Handel's "Messiah" and Mendelssohn's "Elijah" but subsequently has faded. After this delightful performance perhaps its time has come again.

St Mildred's Church, Bingham Road, Addiscombe

Performed on Saturday, 27th March, 2010 at 7.30pm

This mass by J S Bach is described as monumental and at two hours long required stamina of a high order - and Croydon Bach Choir had it in abundance.

There were many moments of significance after the Choir opened with the Kyrie eleison to give a meaningful Gloria in Excelsis.

Elizabeth Cragg soprano was uplifting with the aria Laudamus te and the duet between her and the tenor Ashley Catling in Domine Deus would calm any troubled soul. Meanwhile, the Choir's Cum Sancto Spiritu brought the first half to a glorious end.

The duet in Et in unum Dominum of the soprano and the alto Polly Jeffries was beautifully sung as was bass soloist Richard Collier's moving aria Et in Spiritum Sanctum.

The Choir's Hosanna in excelsis was excellent and to finish wih Dona nobis pacem (grant us thy peace) seemed suitable just before Holy Week.

Conductor Tim Horton wielded a gentle baton but had firm control of the Choir and Orchestra under its leader Rebecca Watts.

Hiawatha's Wedding Feast

St Matthew's Church, East Croydon

Performed on Saturday 26th June 2010 at 7.30pm

St Mildred's Church, Bingham Road, Addiscombe