Taunton Sinfonietta Concert : St James' Church Saturday, May 5 THROUGHOUT this splendid concert the live acoustic of St James' church gave added lustre to the fine ensemble playing of the Taunton Sinfonietta under the inspiring leadership of Mary Eade.

The programme ranged from two of Vivaldi's many pieces, the concerto for two cellos and Summer from the Four Seasons, to Elgar's Introduction and Allegro for strings by way of J.S.Bach's Concerto for oboe and violin in D minor and Handel's Concerto Grosso Opus 3 No.2. Each piece gave delight, and the soloists in the oboe and violin concerto, Lynn Collins and Mary Eade, were outstanding for their conversational lightness of touch, the lyricism of their handling of the contrapuntal lines and their dramatic precision. I loved it. Similarly, Audrey Gullick and Robin Carpenter gave a first-rate account of Vivaldi's concerto for two cellos, in which, especially in the slow movement, the plaintive voices of the cellos were beautifully matched.

The strings, when required, especially in the dramatic passages of Elgar's Introduction and Allegro and Vivaldi's Summer produced a strikingly full sound, both accurate and expressive - and proved to be in full control of the nature of each composition, engaging hearts minds and spirits in the performance.

The next concert on June 16th in St James' church will feature the singing of the young counter tenor, Peter Oakley, and will be an occasion not to be missed.

Sue Watts