MAKING their second appearance at the festival, this quartet from Covent Garden did not disappoint.

Though Chi Mi Frena from Lucia di Lammermoor, is a sextet, the four singers gave a terrific performance to open the programme.

We were treated to solos and duets, from opera and operetta, too numerous to comment on them all, but I will pick out some highlights, which included the wonderful quartet from Rigoletto.

Prolonged applause went to All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera, sung by baritone John Morgan and mezzo-soprano Amanda Floyd. For me the two outstanding items were soprano Glenys Roberts' performance of Vissi d'Arte from Tosca, and the ladies' Flower Duet from Lakme, which I have never heard sung better.

Tenor George Owen gave a good performance of E la Solita Storia from L'Arlesiana but should never have attempted the final top note of Torna a Surriento.

After the dreamy Brother Mine from Die Fledermaus, encores of O Sole Mio, and music from The Gondoliers, brought an operatic feast to a close.

VJS