THE Good Friday concert at Taunton's St Mary Magdalene's Church by the Amici chamber choir and OrchestraWest featured Haydn's 'Harmoniemesse' and Fauré Requiem.

With the 'Harmoniemesse', there were some issues of balance and at times the choir sounded distant with voices not getting through the forces of the orchestra.

But there were many occasions of real quality when the singing came through loud and clear such as in the contrapuntal passages of the Quoniam tu Solus.

The four fine soloists were from the choir - soprano Lisa Tustian, alto Clara Wood, tenor Simon Hurrell and bass Michael Collins.

The female voices blended beautifully and all displayed assurance.

Conductor John Cole kept things moving throughout adding drama and momentum, while the fanfare opening of the concluding Dona Nobis Pacem was effective, leading to a rousing conclusion.

For the Fauré Requiem, the choir voices and the writing from within a pared-down orchestra combined in a seamless blend of sonorities and harmonies.

The choir were at ease in their metier, pitch perfect and in control in a faultless performance.

Soprano Jennie Morris was moving in the Pie Jesu solo with her pure tone.

Michael Collins sang his baritone part very nicely with the necessary attention to phrasing and dynamics.

The orchestral playing was excellent, with special honours to leader Barry Haskey for his exquisite violin solo and organist Andrew Carter on a substitute instrument after the church organ caught fire in the morning.

John Cole controlled the tempi and dynamics with great skill and musicality.