It’s twenty-two years since the world lost, within weeks, two American masters in the craft of music; Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland.

Here, under the dynamic David Hill, we were reminded of their powerful influence and musicianship.

Bernstein’s imaginative Chichester Psalms exploded into life with the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus in cracking form, weighing in with their best Hebrew amid the orchestra’s forceful sound. Treble soloist Alexander Banwell sang the central Psalm 23 with clear, rock-steady intonation handsomely delivered.

A potent orchestral lament preceded a softly-voiced semi-chorus and the superbly moving, a capella, prayerful plea for peace on a day when there was further disturbing news of ‘religious’ conflict.

Copland’s Appalachian Spring, derived from his ballet reflecting 18th century farm-based life. Hill’s attention to this beguilingly orchestrated work caught the tender moods and exuberant folk-dances to perfection.

A rarity from the same composer; his Old American Songs Set 2 in which bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu conveyed the essence of all five songs with tremendous panache.

Back to Bernstein and more conflict, this in his Romeo and Juliet-based West Side Story: Symphonic Dances. Effectively following the ballet’s synopsis Hill brought every nuance and pounding rhythm to fruition, the BSO playing their collective hearts out and capping it all with an exhilarating encore; Bernstein’s Candide Overture.