OVER 200 people enjoyed a wonderfully crafted concert last Friday of French choral music performed by The Hereford Chamber Choir in Hereford Cathedral Lady Chapel.

Director Michael Miller had chosen works by composers prominent for their significant impact on the development of 20th century modernist music, including Fauré, Lalo, Duruflé, Debussy, Villette, Poulenc and Messiaen.

Instrumentalist soloists,16-year-old violinist Katie Champ and 13-year-old pianist Victoria Miller, who both study music at Fairfield High School, impressed the audience with sensitive performances of Debussy’s Clare de Lune and Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole (4th movement) which gave rise to an atmosphere of a most ethereal nature.

The audience enjoyed a first half of a capella motets: three of Duruflé’s Quatre motets, Hymne à la Vierge - Villette, O Magnum Mysterium - Poulenc, O Sacrum con Vivium - Messiaen and accompanied Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine which whetted the appetite for the second half - The Fauré Requiem Mass. Paul James, the accompanist, played with sympathetic appreciation, enhancing emotional solo performances by both Roger Langford (bass) and Megan Howells (soprano).

The Hereford Chamber Choir is always looking for new committed singers. To find out more, visit herefordchamberchoir.org.uk This concert will be performed again in Dilwyn church on Saturday, June 27.