BS0 and Chorus, Lighthouse, Poole

THE Bournemouth Symphony Chorus raised the roof (literally it seems; a leak showering the male section in the following work) most aptly in Stephen McNeff's new work Weathers.

This first performance under David Hill's direction of settings from four Thomas Hardy poems conjured nature's elements with tremendous frisson. The raw drama of She Hears the Storm as well as lovely a cappella singing would make a fine prelude to RVW's Sea Symphony.

The circumstances surrounding Finzi's Cello Concerto, he was suffering from Hodgkin's disease, belie its merry finale. Raphael Wallfisch has complete mastery of this passionate and personal work, pouring forth the Allegro's gravitas with formidable insight. Melancholic symmetry suffused the central movement, memorably yielding to emotional catharsis.

The merciless beauty of Vaughan Williams' A London Symphony, drawing on the Thames dark undertow found Hill pulling off a stunning, fully characterised first movement. The second's mysterious mood flowed sedately with Stuart Green's sensitive viola solos.

The Scherzo's nocturnal revellers danced lightly through the brilliantly imaginative orchestration whilst in the finale Hill put thunder into climaxes, winding gracefully to the finale ebb.

The programme a glorious ensign to English music the like of which has long been due.