Vivaldi’s Venice St Margaret's, Ilkley Saturday, August 3 The music ranged over 150 years from Monteverdi to Bach and Vivaldi in a remarkable concert given by the choir of St Margaret's and Ilkley Baroque led by Stephen Shulman, a founder member of the Orchestra of Opera North.

Deus in Adjutorium, from Monteverdi's Vespers, almost made me wish that we were hearing the entire work. St Margaret's is built on a smaller scale than St Mark’s in Venice, but the spatial qualities of our fine 19th century church are superb for Monteverdi's highly theatrical instrumental and vocal effects.

Edward Thornton, a founder member of the Chorus of Opera North, was the bass soloist in J.S Bach's long cantata Ich Habe Genug, with oboe obbligato played by Sara Caine.

This was followed by Vivaldi's Double Trumpet Concerto with soloists Geoffrey Cloke and Pam Whitehead. Another “splendid noise” by Monteverdi ended the first half – his Beatus Vir – scored for six-part choir, with trumpets and harpsichord continuo played by Christopher Rathbone.

La Rejouissance, from Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks, made a bracing opening to the second half. The next three pieces cast the spotlight on Ilkley Baroque flautist Jayne Sutton-Muldoon.

She was the soloist in the cantabile from Vivaldi's Flute Concerto No 3 “Il Cardellino”, the andante from Bach's Flute Sonata No 4 in E Minor, and the minuets 1 & 2 from Bach's Sonata No 5 in C Minor.

Vivaldi's famous Gloria brought the concert to a close, featuring the entire instrumental and vocal ensemble – Ilkley Baroque, the choir of St Margaret's, vocal soloists Catherine Cheater (soprano) and Sara Caine (alto), Geoff Cloke and Pam Whitehead (trumpets).

The combined forces were directed from the harpsichord by Christopher Rathbone. An enthusiastic audience will have rejoiced in the high standards of Ilkley music-making showcased in this hugely enjoyable concert given in association with Ilkley Summer Festival.

Geoffrey Mogridge