TAKE four seasoned operatic stars, a well-drilled and enthusiastic chorus, masterly conducting and with professional piano accompaniment from Joyce Clarke.

That mixture produces the scintillating evening, enjoyed last month by Taunton Temple Methodist Church's appreciative audience.

The Opera Gala, sponsored by Taunton Vale Rotary Club, was in aid of the Taunton Opportunity Group.

The group, which needs £30,000 a year to keep running, works helping pre-school children with special needs prepare for mainstream education at age five.

Suzanne Manuelle (soprano) and Alison Kettlewell (mezzo) excelled in well-known favourites such as Un Bel Di from Madama Butterfly and the sultry Habanera from Carmen.

The male side of the equation had John Hudson (tenor) enthralling us with Nessun Dorma and La Donna e Mobile, ably matched by Philip Smith (baritone) stealing the audience's heart as a wickedly flirtatious Figaro in Largo al Factotum, and making a seductively convincing job of Don Giovanni's La Ci Darem la Mano.

Duets, trios and the wonderful quartet from Rigoletto were superb, and the chorus equally thrilled with the raucous Anvil Chorus and a lovely performance of the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves.

David Valentine compèred wonderfully, still finding time to nip back to tenor section of the chorus for the concerted numbers, all well conducted by Christopher Ball.

The evening ended with the joyous drinking song from La Traviata and a sparkling encore was the Champagne chorus from Die Fledermaus. All-in-all, a huge artistic success, and an evening to enjoy.

HAROLD W. MEAD