The Witham, Barnard Castle

THIS was a novel, joyous and splendid evening’s entertainment by fresh young voices in a cleverly constructed programme about love.

Credit goes to Miranda Wright, of Wolsingham, for teaching, encouraging and programming an ensemble, whose ages range from 14 to early twenties, Julia Kennard for her sensitive piano accompaniment and Philippa Anderson for choreography and staging.

The singers moved around cabaret tables using red roses and two telephones as props.

They began with Yeats’ When you are old, before a beautiful solo from Claire Tunney, with the ensemble humming the accompaniment, and Britten’s In a Bath teashop.

David Powton’s displayed a rich voice in Tristezza by Tosti, Marnell Blair’s contralto was perfectly suited to Man is for woman made, by Purcell – humour lightening the mood – and Charlotte Heslop’s yearning voice perfectly rendered Sweeter than roses.

Liam Jones sang Love without hope, then came a lively and fresh duet by Sophie Kidwell and Tom Rowarth to Finzi’s setting of Christina Rossetti’s Boy Johnny.

Perched like a nightclub artiste on a table, Catherine O’Connor performed Britten’s When you’re feeling like expressing your affection.

The telephones came into use as Sophie Kidwell and Tom Rowarth serenaded each other in Purcell’s My dearest, my fairest – one of the evening’s highlights.

Fine singing by Charlotte Heslop, Marnell Blair, Tom Rowarth and Ana Fernanda-Guerra and a Bob Chilcott arrangement of three songs from the first half made for a wonderful finale.

The second half began with off-stage humming and the Eriskay Love-lilt sung by Hannah McCullagh. Sarah Ryan, her voice remarkably mature for one so young, produced a dramatic and melancholic mood in a song by Massenet.

Another high point was Harriet Beckham’s singing of Grieg’s Ich liebe dich while in an embrace with Ben Noble. Strauss’ Zueignung, thrillingly sung by Clare Tunney, produced goosebumps before Britten’s arrangement of Tell me the truth about love performed by the ensemble.

The volume and length of applause produced an encore and fitting end to a delightful evening.

Sue Shaw