A RARE performance of Bach's imposing Mass in B minor at Kendal Parish Church attracted a capacity audience, none of whom will have gone away disappointed.

The concert was the brainchild and long-held ambition of Margaret Pattinson, whose Cumbria Baroque Choir was considerably expanded to meet the requirements of this demanding work.

The choral singers, several of them soloists in their own right, produced a refined and well-blended tone, together with the careful balance and articulation needed to deliver complex fugal textures with clarity.

The singing was confident, intonation could hardly be faulted, and ensemble was nearly always reliable. There was sometimes a slight sense of understatement, where expressive opportunities were missed, though many movements, notably the Crucifixus, were most moving.

The choir's evident commitment produced a gravity well suited to much of the work, but perhaps inhibited the sense of joy latent in the most ebullient passages, such as Et resurrexit and Osanna.

In a stylish quartet of vocal soloists, Philippa Hyde (soprano) delighted with her fresh tone and authoritative approach, David Sheringham (counter tenor) demonstrated a smooth and flexible voice with lovely top notes, and Kenneth Burgess (baritone) produced a rich and well-focused sound. These three, though, did have some difficulty in projecting the lower-pitched sections of their arias successfully.

Outstanding among the soloists was tenor Joshua Ellicott, who had no such problems: his finely-judged delivery was utterly persuasive at all times.

The Northern Chamber Orchestra accompanied with accuracy and style, and the often-demanding instrumental solos in the arias were an especial pleasure. The three high trumpets, admirably sensitive when necessary, blazed away impressively at the big moments. There were, however, occasional problems of balance between the other instruments and the singers. The performance was conducted by Hugh Davies, who chose and maintained idiomatic tempi throughout, directing with firm authority but the minimum of fuss.

This was more than just a worthwhile project. It was a most gratifying and uplifting experience for performers and audience alike: an evening to remember. Stephen Carleston