Former choir member soprano Marianne Wright from Huthwaite, taking time off from her studies at Trinity College of Music in London, looked pleased to be back on home ground as she was joined by three other members — soprano Sarah Carlin and mezzos Lydia Seager and Sally Dodds — and friends for a musical mixture called 'Late Summer Serenade'.

Thanks to their Cantamus training, Marianne and her fellow singers were just at home in Mozart or Handel as they were with 'Three Little Maids From School' from Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Mikado' or in Bob Dylan's 'Tomorow Is a Long Time'.

Other highlights included the four girls having fun in the traditional Irish tune of love's mixed blessings in 'The Stuttering Lovers' contrasted with Marianne and Sally as sisters falling out when they fall for the same man in Brahms' 'Die Schwestern'.

Marianne, whose time in London has also seen her showcasing her talents with various different groups (Vocal Harum, Dolce and Eudaimonia, which is Greek for happiness and well-being) was just at home in French in 'Je Veux Vivre' from Gounod's 'Romeo et Juliette' as she was jazzing it up in Gershwin's 'Someone to Watch Over Me' accompanied by Trinity student Ruth Wawszczyk on flute.

Providing sterling service for more than 20 numbers at the concert was former Cantamus accompanist Michael Neaum, handing over to Ian Richardson — who some may have seen as a rehearsal pianist in the BBC's celebrity talent show 'Maestro' -- accompanying Ruth in flute solos by Faure and a jaunty jig 'In Ireland' by Hamilton Harty.

Other second half gems included Sarah Carlin's spot-on rendition of the 'Carousel' hit 'If I Loved You', and Marianne being joined by Ruth in an atmospheric version of Errol Garner's jazz classic 'Misty'.

Jerome Kern's 'Just the Way You Looked Tonight' brought the vocal quarter together again for a showbiz finale ahead of a well-received encore of the Beatles 'Something'.

— Tony Spittles