Grange Choral Society, Christchurch Priory

In a fitting farewell to their musical director Christopher Dawe, the Grange Chorus and Orchestra excelled even their finest artistic standards with Bach's Mass in B minor.

This pinnacle of sacred music, presented here with a team of five outstanding soloists, opened the choral floodgates with a magnificent Kyrie Eleison set off by the subsequent duet for soprano Nicki Kennedy and mezzo-soprano Stephanie Lewis in complimentary tonal qualities.

A fine solo from tenor Hugh Hetherington in the Benedictus and from bass-baritone Phillip Tebb in Et in Spiritum Sanctum set further high points. The duet Et in Unum Dominus by Kennedy and counter-tenor Tim Mead made one of the highlights topped by Mead's Agnus Dei in a poignant and potent performance.

Maybe Dawe could have drawn even greater contrast from the chorus' Et incarnatus and the soloist's Crucifixus with marg-inally lower and smoother dynamics but the great joy of rhythmic vitality evidenced a choir thoroughly prepared for the rigorous demands of Bach's genius.

Choral singing throughout was thrillingly disciplined; glowing with inspired enthusiasm and supported with orchestral brilliance under the leadership of Brian Howells. The chorus's final round of cheers for Christopher Dawe reinforced their admiration.

Mike Marsh