Wigton Road Methodist Church, Carlisle

The opening song of Dalston and Chepstow Male Voice Choirs combined concert was ‘There could be Trouble Ahead’: nothing could have been further from the truth, because the audience at Wigton Road Methodist Church was treated to a feast of splendid music-making, under the expert batons of Michael Deakin and Richard Fry.

Both choirs produced flowing legato phrases, facilitated by exemplary breath-control; had excellent diction and employed a broad range of dynamics. With not a sheet of music in sight, concentration was focused and the resulting attention to detail was impressive.

Dalston’s assured, rousing opener displayed rhythmic vitality and a pleasing blend of voices. This was followed by two gentler contrasts: a humour-tinged trip down memory lane with Flanders and Swann’s ‘Slow Train’ and the traditional ‘Water of Tyne’ which created an appropriate dreamy, melancholic mood. In ‘Nessun Dorma’ we heard a warm, choral sound filled with lush harmonies. Chepstow opened their programme with a Welsh hymn, ‘Diolch I’r Lor’ in which voice-parts were carefully balanced and harmonies tight. Polished performances from two musicals, ‘Memory ‘ from Cats and ‘This is the Moment’ from Jekyll and Hyde, were followed by a moving performance of Goodall’s ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’.

In a passionate, confident rendition of ‘Comrades in Arms’ by Adolphe Adam, there were well-articulated legato and staccato passages and a wealth of dynamic intensity and clearly contrasted moods. Throughout the well-coordinated afternoon Lorraine Gash, Rosemarie Lewis and Kirsten Watson accompanied with great sensitivity. Young pianist Calum Taylor played a varied selection of pieces, from Chopin to Satié. In Scott Joplin’s ‘The Cascades’ he seemed to find his niche: he captured the rag-time style very well with a strong, steady, rhythmic pulse.

The pieces sung by the combined choirs - ‘Gwahodiadd’, ‘Cwm Rhonda’, ‘Love can I only tell Thee’ and ‘Rhythm of Life’ - were totally uplifting; a powerful, full-bodied, energised and well- balanced choral sound that delighted the audience. When can we have some more?