THE concert opened with a delicious performance of Brahms’s Sixteen waltzes for piano duet by Nicky Losseff and Ben Horden: intimate, witty and entirely musical in every detail.

This extraordinary level of musicianship continued with two songs each by Brahms and Strauss. Soprano Marina Theodoropoulou sang the songs beautifully, her tone rich and velvety whie Ms Losseff’s accompaniment was simply a delight.

Brahms’s Requiem is a huge work and it is a very real challenge to deliver the sheer emotional and spiritual depth the piece demands, especially for the choir. The mood of the opening movement was captured wonderfully and the balance between the piano duet and the massive choral forces was impressive.

The unison passages in the second movement funeral march were incredibly powerful and their flowering into the most tender moments very affecting. Bass Robert Davies delivered his two (baritone) solos impeccably. He has a resonant, cultured voice.

The gorgeous fourth movement was a joy. After the intensity of the opening movements the performers clearly relished the sheer beauty and serenity of the music.

A lighter tone was to be found in the next movement with a simply lovely solo from Ms Theodoropoulou with sensitive support from the pianists.

The musical respite was, however, short lived. The performers had to be on top of their game in the dramatic sixth movement, and they were. Mr Davies was again in commanding form with the solo We shall not all sleep and the musical explosion utterly terrific.

The conclusion of the work was just right: peaceful, the work has run its course. Conductor Peter Seymour was his usual excellent self.