The Society launched its 70th anniversary season to a capacity audience. Their programme consisted of only one work - Bach's Christmas Oratorio, sung in English.

Now in his second season as Aylesbury Choral Society's musical director, James Burton wisely chose to make cuts, the most substantial of these being the whole of Part IV, to save all six being performed in one session.

Burton demonstrated a clear understanding of the specific needs in performing Bach.

Thanks to the acoustic of St Mary's Church and Burton's choice of baroque orchestra (The New Baroque Chamber Ensemble, performing on period instruments), the lines of all the solo voices were clearly audible.

Added to Burton's felicitous choice of tempi, this made for a compelling performance.

The four main soloists - Susan Gilmour Bailey (soprano), Catrin Johnsson (mezzo soprano), Daniel Norman (tenor) and James Gower (bass) - were very pleasing to listen to.

Of these, I would single out Daniel Norman for special mention for the spontaneity he injected into his recitatives.

I particularly liked the device of moving the solo singers around, according to the demands of the music, as for example in the Echo aria, which featured an additional soprano off-stage, Felicity Davies.

The society was augmented on this occasion by pupils from Aylesbury and Sir Henry Floyd Grammar Schools, who sang all the chorales.

The choir was extremely well drilled by their musical director, and this was reflected in their enthusiastic and stylish renditions of the choruses.

However, there was an imbalance between male and female voices. Although not serious in this work, it will certainly be more problematic later on in the season in Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius. More tenors and basses would be welcomed in joining the society ready for then.

Philip Stevens

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