The Bristol Ensemble with City of Bristol Choir present Christmas Spectacular: St Georges, Bristol

AS the last members of the Bristol Ensemble picked their way past their fellow musicians and the City of Bristol Choir, who were already in place, on a very crowded St Georges stage, the scene was reminiscent of the famous crowded cabin scene in the Marx Brothers film A Night at the Opera.

That was considered by fans, and critics, to be one of their best films, and followers of this combination of musicians and singers would probably agree that this Christmas Spectacular is one of the most enjoyable shows this combination are involved in all year.

Like the Marx Brothers film it features some fine serious music, JS Bach's Gloria from the Mass in B minor, Torelli's Christmas Concerto, and a new John Rutter work, Carol of the Magi. It also had many moments of high comedy, Roger Huckle leading the strings of the orchestra in an Hungarian Polka played in complete darkness, their fluorescent bows making magical patterns as they played; Liz Cunningham explaining why women are best when it comes to Christmas shopping; conductor David Ogden leading the choir and orchestra through a fun arrangement of Noel, and coaxing the audience into joining in every action referred to in The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Traditional Christmas favourites like Deck the Halls, Ding! Dong! Merrily on High, and a beautiful rendition of In The Bleak Midwinter were treated with due deference in a programme which captured the fun as well as the meaning and spirit of Christmas.

8/10

GERRY PARKER