Locrian Ensemble - Nelson by Candlelight

MICHAEL DRAKE

> Sheringham Little Theatre

Much was expected of Norfolk's son 200 years ago, and county audiences expect the same devotion to duty by these talented musicians.

And they are never let down.

On Saturday evening, the absence of candlelight did not distract from their programme, inspired by the Trafalgar Victory.

After taking part in the London commemoration, the last concert of their "Nelson" tour was appropriately in north Norfolk, although their choice of Beethoven's Pathe-tique Piano Sonata arrangement seemed an odd choice.

Not so, for the adaptation for a string quartet was written in 1805 and the three movements surrounded and enhanced a dramatic narration of events in quite emotional fashion.

Catriona Holt was vocally crystal clear and with exemplary diction in Haydn's Recall of Lions from Battle of the Nile and later, with the addition of harp, it was difficult to imagine a more delightful account of My Bonny lies over the Ocean.

If the Locrian had been in serious vein until then, they added humour to their arrangement of a phonetic 1812 Overture with an "appearance" by Nelson. But in fact it was the "little French Emperor" who had the last words - very unpatriotic, but Rule Britannia completed the entertainment.