Excellent singing, the wonderful Akina String Quartet, beautiful summer weather and refreshing Pimms during the interval made this a concert to remember.

The Handel Coronation Anthems, opening, of course, with Zadok the Priest, were given first. The chamber setting proved that these pieces, designed by Handel for large forces in Westminster Abbey, prove particularly effective in a smaller scale performance capable of bringing out their intrinsic dance-like and typically Handelian character. Akina Strings played the two quick movement of the third Brandenburg Concerto with great verve and musicality—and to warm applause. The programme’s second half was devoted to a fine Vivaldi Gloria, in which the Et in terra pax was by general agreement truly spine-tingling. All solos in this concert were taken with credit by members of the choir.

Little more needs to be added—this was surely one of the choir’s most enjoyable and successful recent performances.