MICHAEL DRAKE These “birds on the wing” as they came to rest on the grand hall's staircase at Blickling Hall.

MICHAEL DRAKE

After many attempts to hear their song I caught up with these “birds on the wing” as they came to rest on the grand hall's staircase.

Opening with their signature tune, Mendelssohn's “On Wings Of Song”, this ladies' choir immediately projected the collective voice of experience with some fine phrasing due to dynamic singing. They know what they are doing and although somewhat inconsistent, these qualities were to be displayed throughout a varied programme in which they were at their best by far in songs from musical theatre.

Novello's “We'll Gather Lilacs” and “Waltz of My Heart” suited them admirably and this was where they really took flight, though they failed to maintain their high standard for Lloyd Webber's “Memory”.

Lively direction by Audrey Yates and accompaniment from pianist Annette Jude added much to the overall quality of entertainment as did reader Charles Roberts's emphatic style in an hilarious account of Daisy Ashford's (aged 9) “Proposal”.

The ensemble tried a little too hard to put romance into the love songs but were passionate with Faure's “Apres Un Reve”.