Keighley Vocal Union

10:12am Friday 11th July 2008

Frank Smith and his choir presented a superlative concert last Saturday in Skipton.

The focus was on four young musicians who excelled themselves throughout.

Imogen Cummings from Silsden and Daniel Fletcher -- both at the Royal Holloway, London -- delighted with a lovely duet from The Creation. Imogen's tone was deliciously pure.

Total contrast came with Tom Hardaker, from Sutton, a wizard on the accordion; his Bach and Tchaikovsky were full of the composers' vivid colouring.

William Dutton, BBC Chorister of the Year 2006, had a stunningly striking treble voice that was magical in I Walk Beside You.

The choir certainly held their own with 14 items, many new.

Maybe they needed a little time to warm up, for both Franck's Panis Angelicus and Faure's Jean Racine Canticle were a bit tentative.

Later an arrangement of Jacob's Ladder was a triumph, another great tribute to conductor Frank Smith.

John Pettitt

Editor's Choice