THE coming of Christmas was jubilantly proclaimed in St Edmund's Church, Shipston. The annual Advent concert of the Stour Singers included carols for everyone and two choral lullabies, The Nativity Carol (John Rutter) and The Shepherds' Cradle Song (Karl Leuner, arr. C. MacPherson), which the choir sang with great delicacy. The major works were by Handel and Haydn. This was very appropriate since Haydn was inspired to write choral music on hearing Handelian singing in Westminster Abbey on his first visit to London in 1791. The concert began with his setting of the Te Deum and concluded with Handel's Chandos Anthem No. 9, 'O Praise the Lord with One Consent.' The choir gave a sirited and uplifting performance under the well-judged direction of their founder, Richard Emms, who has developed a fine 60-strong choir from a singing class 25 years ago. The soloists, Sybylla Claire (soprano), Matthew Beale (tenor), Brandon Verlarde (baritone), balanced the programme respectively with arias from Messiah (Handel), Dies Natalis (Finzi), Magnificat (Bach) and Schubert songs. The singing was well-supported by instrumentalists Doreen Busbridge and Anthony Harvey (violins), Diana Lucas (viola), John Busbridge (cello), Sarah Bourne (oboe), Cathy Gray (bassoon), Justin Rhodes (timpani) and Rachel Bird, the choir's regular rehearsal accompanist, on keyboard. Altogether this was a lovely occasion, raising the spirit in anticipation of Christmas above the gloom of recent weeks. The next Stour Singers concert will be on May 12, 2001, and will include works by Vivaldi, Mozart and Cherubini. New members are always welcome and anyone interested should contact Dickie Bird on 01608 682400. Review sent in by Dr Victor Twyman.