There can be few instrumental passages as iconic as those that open Handel’s Coronation anthem ‘Zadok the Priest’ leading to the exultant opening blaze of sound from the choir. This, like the other three Coronation Anthems performed in this ‘Handel Celebration’, were written for the coronation of King George II and Queen Caroline in 1727 in Westminster Abbey.

Of the four anthems ‘Zadok the Priest’ is best-known. It was good to have the opportunity to hear all four side by side - some of the most enduring ceremonial church music ever written.

The performances all received hugely assured performances from Stephen Benavente’s choir. Tempi were generally steady and the singing had the assurance and accuracy that one would expect from the 21 members of one of Wales’ best chamber choirs. The consistent vocal quality and carefully calculated balance meant that at no point were they swamped by the excellent accompanying Concert Orchestra De Cymru.

There were also solo contributions from soprano soloist Stephanie Benavente that included a memorable ’Let the bright seraphim’ from ‘Samson’ – one of Handel’s most popular arias with its brilliant trumpet obbligato, superbly performed here.

Both halves had begun with instrumental contributions – a wonderfully fluent ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’ set the scene for the choral excellence to follow and the Music for the Royal Fireworks, written for a display in Green Park in 1749.