BURY Choral Society provided another treat for Bury's music lovers with their concert at Bolton Road Methodist Church, on March 2.

The first half constituted a mixed bag of choral works, organ solos and Aaron Copeland's ever-popular setting of five American folk songs.

The latter were sung and aplomb by soprano soloist Nicola Mills. A local girl - well, fairly close, Oldham - Nicola has all the vocal and technical qualities one could look for, plus an attractive and engaging personality combined with lively and stylish presentation. The audience loved her.

Ronnie Frost played works by Buxtehude and Pasini in his usual immaculate manner, showing off the virtues and, particularly in the latter, the slight implications of the Copeman hart digital instrument.

Mendelssohn's setting of the 43rd Psalm began proceedings, and the choir continued in good form to round off the half with Handel's's Coronation Anthem.

Before the very long and loud Glory which begins the middle section, they took such a huge collective breath there was a threat of the walls being sucked in!

There was then a collective girding of loins for the second half, John Rutter's setting of the Magnificant.

Rutter's works are among the most enjoyable and accessible of modern British choral writing, but they make considerable demands on the performers, and on this occasion there were slight tremors.

The handmaiden was a bit loose, the choir as a whole (as well as the proud) were somewhat scattered in the imagination of their hearts, and the sopranos at times showed the strain.

However, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise vigorous and enhancing performance from choir and soloist alike.

JDA