Praise of the highest kind - that was the well-deserved reaction of the audience to the Lake District Summer Music Festival's presentation of Elgar's demanding 'Dream of Gerontius'.

The organisers are to be commended for their courage in organising the event and the performers for living up to the opportunity of participation in this monument of the English choral tradition.

From where I sat, I could not see Gerontius, Joshua Elicot, but I could hear the acting in his voice from start to unflagging finish. The brilliant idea of putting the Priest/Angel of the Agony into the pulpit, above and to the side of the main action, paid dividends form the moment of the spine tingling 'Profiscerare anima Christiana' given such a commanding delivery by Alex Ashworth.

The Cumbria Festival Chorus and the Amabile Girls Choir gave warm tones to what I will remember as the most affectionate performance of the work that I have heard.

The acoustics of the church are good for the size of the orchestra used, and the size of the orchestra balanced well with the voices. Any more of either might have been too powerful for the volume of the space. As it was, both were well controlled by conductor Ian Jones, whose well-measured pace and clear directions to the performers showed a deep understanding of the work.

I am not easily moved to join standing ovations, and I was not the first to rise. But many of us did and audience members around me were buzzing with appreciation as we left.

John Davnall

Manchester