COMPETING with the Sunday evening traffic roar from the nearby M3 and the throbbing of festival power generators, former boy soprano Aled Jones needed all his impressive range and power to deliver an enjoyable concert.
The first set, featuring Jones, a male violin duo, and the wonderful Libera male voice choir, was classical karaoke, almost every piece relying on pre-recorded backing tracks, unlike genuine geniuses like Brian Wilson, David Gates and Tommy Emmanuel, in whose concerts every note you hear is pure, real, live music.
The second set was better, with a string quartet, harp and keyboard enabling Jones to excel on a Welsh lullaby, the classic In Marble Halls, and John Rutter's spiritual Deep Peace.
The 17-strong Libera Choir produced some gorgeous harmonies, Aled Jones was charming and utterly professional, but the encore - "the nation's favourite hymn" - How Great Thou Art was back to polished karaoke.
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