Short but sublime concert by National Youth Choir

It’s quality not quantity that counts. The Usher Hall concert by the National Youth Choir of Scotland might have been one of the shortest concerts in this year’s festival but it might also end up as having been one of the best.

An hour with NYCOS was an utter delight, but why has it taken them so long to take the stage on their own at the Edinburgh Festival?

Excellent doesn’t come close in describing them as they epitomise all that’s vital in a choir from balance to phrasing to polished discipline.

Conductor Christopher Bell is catalyst to all this.

The singers’ talent is nurtured in the early days through regional choirs before their skill is exploited in this the senior choir which consists of ages 16-25.

Such exploitation reaps rich rewards as four very tricky song collections were performed with great aplomb. I’d even forgive them for a wee wobble in Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical songs.

The Vaughan Williams set was sung with Andrew McTaggart (baritone) and Michael Bawtree (organ) and while this combination was excellent, I was looking forward to hearing NYCOS a capella.

And in this form, through five spirituals by Michael Tippett, they hit home just how good they are. The frantic rhythm of Nobody Knows and the haunting Steal Away . . .both were simply exceptional. And the quality of the choir was represented individually by for excellent soloists.

A five-star performance.