Surrey Choral Festival Gala Concert, Harlequin Theatre Reviewed by Simon Ames

An extensive and ambitious musical programme staged by the RRCS helped to fill the auditorium.

Music by French composers Faure, Ravel and Franck were at the heart of the programme which opened – delightfully – with a group from St Bede's School in a neatly choreographed performance of seven Romanian Folk Dances with music by Bela Bartok.

A striking contrast of French contemporary music of the late 19th century came with a fine orchestral rendering of Faure's 'Pavane' followed by Cesar Franck's slow-moving and sensitive 'Panis Angelicus' sung with meaningful sincerity by soprano Alison Pearce.

The choir continued with a performance of Faure's Cantique de Jean Racine, special because it was a version that has been arranged by John Rutter.

Further evidence of a determined RRCS policy of encouraging local youngsters came with an item entitled 'Who Dares Sings' involving students from Redhill's Warwick School.

Credit is due to director Peter Farrant's thorough preparation and attention to detail, also his dedicated work with pupils of St Bede's and Warwick School that have been recognised and rewarded with sponsorship by Legal & General.