PLEASE may I offer my most sincere thanks and congratulations to the Malvern Festival Chorus, conductor Iain Sloan and his wonderful orchestra for their Evening of Elgar on Saturday, June 8. Most of all, however, may I say how richly Vanessa Williamson deserves all the praise which I hope will be given to her for replacing the advertised soloist (Della Jones) with less than a week's notice. I thought she was quite outstanding - on a night of musical 'highs'.

I had never before heard a 'live' performance of 'Pomp & Circumstance' Marches 184, Give unto the Lord, or the Music Makers and my only previous hearing of Sea Pictures did not compare in all round quality.

I shall also treasure their performance of the National Anthem (in full) and participating in Land of Hope & Glory for the first time at a concert.

My impression was that all my fellow Elgar Society members present thoroughly enjoyed themselves and I was gratified to see a full house in spite of Miss Jones' withdrawal. In short, a wonderful evening and it was a privilege to be there!

IAN J MORGAN, Meadow Road, Malvern