By Peter Fletcher

Last year it was The Great War, this year WWII with many commemorative concerts and revues; the British repertoire had not changed much in the intervening 30 years, still being largely music hall and parlour songs - the major difference was the introduction of the American Songbook.

Many revues tended to be a mixture of rumbustious soldier songs with the odd jazz number, played by brass bands, concert bands, big bands and swing bands; this was a much more genteel affair; the kind of entertainment one would expect after a good dinner at Downton Abbey.

The ensemble consisted of tenor Simon McEnery, mezzo soprano Audrey Palmer ably accompanied by Audrey’s husband David Rhind-Tutt on piano.

Simon is a fine tenor, which we heard in many of his harmonisations but tonight spent much of his time in the baritone register, which he does very well. He had a good dramatic sense and brought a number of the songs to life with a somewhat louche characterization. His renditions of John Ireland’s “Sea Fever” and “Pale Hands I Love” were particularly effective, and I very much enjoyed his controlled “Every Time We Say Goodbye”.

Audrey has a completely consistent mezzo tone with immaculate intonation; her vibrato is a little wide for my taste, but entirely in keeping with the period, and her versions of “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” and Noël Coward’s “Matelot” were very tenderly given.

With such a restricted ensemble, it is difficult to vary the timbral palette but this was achieved by some clever arranging. Starting with the lovely combination of “Stille Nacht” and “Home sweet Home”, through some apposite medleys and several very effective harmonisations, the interest didn’t wane. One thing that I particularly appreciated was the inclusion of the opening verses of the songs, which singers often forego.

The audience were clearly enchanted by this charming evening and we all enjoyed the sing-along at the end: “Run Rabbit, Run”, “Tipperary”, Pack Up Your Troubles”, “Roll Out The Barrel”, “The White Cliffs Of Dover” “We’ll Meet Again” and, of course, the eponymous “Keep The Home Fires Burning”– after all, we had been wanting to do that all night.