THE weather smiled on us, the warm sun shone and the singers from Dawlish Choral Society who had been struck down with the “dreaded lurgy” had made an excellent recovery, writes Christina Sivitter.

The date of the concert at St. Gregory’s Church had been postponed a fortnight, a pleasure well-worth waiting for. Nicholas Gardiner had chosen a programme of beautiful tunes, some well-known like Mozart’s “Ave Verum” and Bruckner’s “Locus Iste”.

They were supported by Italian composers like Monteverdi and T. L. Victoria, where the choir rose confidently to the challenge of the complex parts.

The first half of the programme also included piano pieces played by Nicholas Gardiner, alternating with the choral works.

His “Harmonious Blacksmith” by Handel, Bach’s March in G, and Minuet in G, were all familiar works, and Mozart’s extended Andante (from Sonata K545) had our rapt attention.

The second half delighted us with Schubert’s Mass in G.

Not only did the choir’s tenor and bass sections satisfy with dramatic and robust sound, but they showed a range of sensitivity to the dynamics, from the almost whispered “Credo” to the triumphal fortissimo “Et resurexit tertia die”, and the spine-tingling maestoso of the “Sanctus”.

We welcomed the return of the soprano Ann Draisey, whose clear and ethereal soaring lines brought a touch of Heaven.

Another memorable piece was the trio she sang with the baritone James Bellamy and our own tenor Ian Spackman.

The concert closed with two exquisite works, “Locus Iste’ by Bruckner and “Cantique de Jean Racine” by Faure.

We are grateful to the Manor House and to St. Gregory’s Church for their help, also to Dawlish Town Council, Teignbridge District Council and Devon County Council for their continuing financial support.

We rehearse in the Manor House on Monday evenings at 7.30pm.

For further information, please contact our chairman, Ailsa Spackman, on 01626 891584.

This summer’s concert will be on Saturday, 19 July at 7.30pm in St. Gregory’s Church, and will be the ever-popular Gilbert & Sullivan’s “H. M. S. PINAFORE.