Elgar conceived his three part Apostles cycle on a "gigantic" scale and the numbers of musicians and singers assembled in the Sheldonian on Saturday evening was a visual reminder of this. The huge orchestra filled the floor with the choir massed around them in the galleries. The Kingdom is the second part of the Apostles cycle (the third was never completed). Though not as large scale as Elgar had originally intended, it is a powerful work and this performance matched in every way the breadth of Elgar's vision.

Under Nicholas Cleobury's impeccable direction, the orchestra, choir and soloists gave a thrilling and moving performance - contemplative, lyrical and stirring as the music demanded. In the highly dramatic Pentecost section the bewilderment of the crowd as the apostles start to speak in tongues was portrayed to great effect. This is not easy music to sing. The chorus were equally effective in the Lord's Prayer towards the end of the work - achieving the perfect tone of reverence and supplication.

Among the soloists the soprano Elizabeth Watts is a young talent to watch. She sang the aria The sun goeth down with such beauty I wanted it never to end. Her powerful voice soaring above the tumult of sound in some of the tuttis still rings in my ears. The tenor, Allan Clayton, also gave a superb performance and Louise Winter, who stepped in at three days notice to sing the alto part, did a magnificent job. Her enunciation was crystal clear. Peter Savidge, the bass, seemed to be struggling with a cold and we didn't hear him at his best.

The Royal Philharmonic provided excellent accompaniment and support. The lyrical violin solo which precedes The sun goeth down was played with moving eloquence. This was an exceptional concert and a fitting tribute to Elgar in the 150th year of his birth. Nicholas Cleobury is to be congratulated for his deeply felt and beautifully controlled direction.

Prior to the main concert we were treated to a performance of a work composed by pupils from St Gregory the Great and Cherwell schools, with musicians from the RPO under the leadership of Tim Steiner. The five-part work loosely inspired by The Kingdom was huge fun. It displayed a great deal of inventiveness and an eclectic mix of influences. Music projects like this ought to be a regular feature of school life.