Although they didn’t know it at the beginning of their gala concert appearance, by its end Reg Vardy was to be crowned 2017 French Open Champion.

And much like they did with their performances in winning the title under MD Russell Gray, they also impressed the enthusiastic audience at the Theatre Municipal in full concert mode - highlighting a degree of stylistic versatility that has started to become their hallmark under the Scot.

Brio and dash

A breezy opening ‘Jubilee’ march was the prelude to a whiplash take on ‘Le Corsair’ full of brio and dash – and signalling a level of high quality musical intent that was maintained late into the night (the French audience taking the proposed starting time as a matter of flexible negotiation rather than binding commitment).

Polished solos from Graeme Tindall with ‘A Lovely Day Tomorrow’, Fiona Caswell on ‘All Along With My Thoughts’, Andrew Hedley, playing ‘Travelling Along’, Ed Chapman on ‘Ol’ Man River’ and Kate Malcolm playing ‘Evergreen’ were well received as the clocks ticked towards midnight - as was the performance of the hymn tune ‘Manchester’ played in memory of those involved in the recent terrorist atrocity in the English city.

No complaints

And with items as diverse as ‘Liberty Fanfare’ and ‘Star Wars’, ‘Seize the Day’, ‘Three Rivers Fantasy’ and ‘Fire in the Blood’ to close, the locals couldn’t complain about the level of entertainment they had been presented with by the newly crowned champion – even if the concert didn’t allow too much time for the band to fill up the winner’s trophy at the nearest bar.

Paul Smith