Worthing Philharmonic Choir's Good Friday Concert, entitled Mostly Mozart, featured sacred works by the great composer - in commemoration of his 250th Anniversary. These included the first UK performance of Robert D Levin's recent expansion of the Great C-Minor Mass and, most aptly, Allegri's Miserere that the Maestro himself helped to promote to the World at large. Donovan Brown and the Choir united with the Sinfonia of Arun and five splendid soloists: Sarah Corp and Ashley Barrington (soprano), Cathy Harris (alto), Nathan Vale (tenor) and Anthony Smith (bass).

In the Miserere, with Nathan's crystal-clear plainsong and Sarah's soaring soprano, ably supported by the other soloists and the choir, we shared some of the atmosphere that so inspired the teenage Mozart on visiting Rome's Sistine Chapel during Holy Week in 1770.

Ave Verum Corpus and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, including Ashley's moving rendition of the well-known Laudate Dominum, maintained the spiritual ambience of the evening. Both Choir and Orchestra contributed with style throughout and Dixit Dominus (Psalm 110), also featuring a solo vocal quartet, ended the first half with a resounding "Amen".

Our programme notes explained the origins of this Mass, written to placate Mozart's father who strongly disapproved of his Son's marriage to the young soprano, Constanze. Levin used sketches and extracts from other works by the composer to complete a hitherto unfinished masterpiece.

The opening Kyrie requires extremes of vocal range which soloist, Sarah, handled admirably; as did Ashley the, almost operatic Laudate Dominum, part of the Gloria in which we also heard wonderful choral and orchestral sounds.

The greater part of Levin's work relates to the Credo where additional instrumental parts and completions of original sketches abound. Et incarnatus est featured super vocal work from Sarah and the solos from flute, oboe and bassoon were a delight to the ear. Et in Spiritum Sanctum provided further opportunity for Nathan to shine and this section concluded with a fine four-part fugue from the Choir. Our splendid evening ended with the uplifting Dona Nobis Pacem. Congratulations to all!

Jim Hurdwell