HALIFAX Choral Society brought another successful season to a close with a Last Night of the Proms-style finale.
This contrasted with the first half – a departure from the usual Summer Prom programme with the inclusion of a substantial work.
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stening to comments at the interval and the end about Karl Jenkins's mass for peace, The Armed Man, the purists were delighted. But others had reservations about the heavy nature of the content.
Not in doubt was the high quality of playing from Black Dyke Band and organist David Holder and the singing of the Halifax choir, under the direction of John Pryce-Jones, and members of Bradford Festival Choral Society.
Soloist Sarah Killian stood out as did Colin Powell and Richard Williams.
Danyal Nazir travelled from Sheffield at short notice to stand in for absent Matloub Hussain and sing, in Arabic, The Islamic Call to Prayers.
The band's involvement added to the drama, intensity and emotion.
Principal cornet player Richard Marshall gave an excellent rendition of The Last Post.
Sound enhancement enabled the voices to be heard clearly above the band and images on a large screen at the rear of the stage added to the effects.
In the band's spot after the interval, conducted by Nicholas Childs, percussionist Paul Lovatt-Cooper's Walking With Heroes was an audience pleaser. Bass trombone soloist Adrian Hirst walked through the stalls while playing Swing Low Sweet Chariot.
Patriotic hats and flags were in abundance for Jerusalem, Fantasia on British Sea Songs and Land of Hope and Glory.
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