THE Sinfonietta heralded the approaching end of the year with a delightful Christmas concert at St James Church, Taunton, on Sunday, November 23.

The programme began appropriately with Corelli's Christmas Concerto.

The well balanced string ensemble played sensitively, using a colourful palette of warm tone, the full 'ripieno' delicately contrasted with the 'concertino' soloists, Sarah Wormell (violin), and Chris Sampson (cello) - all much enhanced by the backcloth of St James' sunlit stained glass windows.

Respighi's 3rd Suite, based on songs and string pieces by several Italian composers of the 16th-18th centuries, demonstrated the composer's skill to absorb and develop musical ideas, and was played with warmth by all sections of the orchestra.

In the second 'English' half of the programme, Vaughan Williams and Parry provided players and audience alike with much to enjoy. Vaughan Williams' Five Variations on Dives and Lazarus for harp and strings was sensitively played throughout, the sounds perhaps a little intense for the composer's rich orchestration.

Jess Dalwood's harp gave welcome contrast and opportunity to admire a different string tone.

Parry's English Suite, a charming collection of country dances, was full of lovely tonal contrasts, ranging from intense harmonic sounds to dextrous 'snappy' moments of frolic.

The performance was impressive, with alert attack and a wide range of dynamic shaping.

We can look forward to more delights in the New Year when the Taunton Sinfonietta begins its new season of concerts on February 15, 2015 with 'Romance in the Air'.

Review by Mary Trewin