CHRISTMAS came a month early to Bolton School Arts Centre but the musical favourites are welcome at any time when presented with flair as they were by Counterpoint yesterday afternoon.

Counterpoint were excellent in ensemble works, as in the Opening Gloria in Excelsis, or in various combinations of voices since they are individually singers of high quality.

Jean Hansen presented the programme with a light touch. She and Peter Ward were well received when they gave a number of humorous readings, mostly with a Christmas theme.

After the interval the singers departed from a strictly seasonal theme and presented numbers they considered to be their party pieces.

Pamela Connor led the way with Every Kiss is like Wine and was joined by Joe Connor for a delightful version of the duet Almost Like Being in Love.

There was great variety in this section of the programme, with pieces including the Pipes of Pan. Give me Your Hand (the duet from Don Giovanni), Mr Mistoffolees from Cats, and The Last Night of the World from Miss Saigon.

Nine of the company's singers presented a superb version of Yellow Bird.

As many as 23 singers were on stage for the finale, a return to the Christmas theme.

A moving version of Silent Night, in German and English, recalled Christmas in the trenches during the First World War. Have Yourself a Merry Christmas, I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas and the first Noel rounded off this popular concert that must have made a considerable contribution to the funds of Bolton Hospice.

The musical director was Michael Greenhalgh whose piano accompaniment was well appreciated. Doreen Crowther