STALWARTS of the annual festival programme, this year the Swale Singers under their director Hugh Bowman crossed to Wensleydale, and sang to a well-filled church.

Alas this church, like their regular venue in Grinton, has an architectural handicap for choirs.

They must sing squeezed beyond the chancel arch, which muffles the sound, whereas the orchestra is in the nave.

So the men of the choir were invisible, as were some of the women and, although they all sang their hearts out, they were somewhat overshadowed by the orchestra in some sections of the Mozart Requiem.

But in the quieter passages, such as Hostias, they came over with good tone and blend.

Soloists Charlotte Jackson, Emma Wardell, Paul Smith and Richard Brickstock were placed in front of the orchestra, and were a well-balanced quartet, memorably in the Tuba Mirum, where they were ably supported by Chris Binns, trombonist.

The second work for choir was Mozart’s Solemn Vespers K339 and here again the soloists were in excellent voice. Charlotte Jackson, soprano, sang the familiar Laudate Dominum with great delicacy and wonderful breath control, and the choir gave good support throughout.

A short Aequali for three trombones by Bruckner completed the programme. T3, three young trombonists from RNCM – Chris Binns, Phil Guy and Josh Cirtina – played at the west end of the church.

The sound was brilliant and one wondered whether there was a way of putting the choir at the west end instead of under that restricting arch.

Oh, for a concert hall in the Dales!

Sylvia Crookes