The Micklegate Singers’ concert, A Little Light Shakespeare, promised a richly eccentric musical programme. Not all of this worked. Despite the best efforts of the choir, Matthew Harris’ Shakespeare Songs were unbelievably lazy and unoriginal settings.

True, When Daffodils Begin had an engaging rustic flavour, but the tempo needed to be zappier.

Indeed, the only positive was the singing – lovely tenor ostinatos at the end of When That I Was, and a touching alto solo by Ann Gorvett.

Even worse was Bob Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass. To be sure, the Kyrie was groovy and inappropriately great fun, and the Gloria swung into view with drum support (all three instrumental soloists, David Pipe, Pietro Lusardi and Kristoffer Wright were top drawer), giving way to the sexiest of a Domine middle section.

At least the Sanctus was dressed in some spiritual clothing, albeit a tad soggy. Okay, there is a “gospel” upbeat tradition, but this is a Latin Mass, not a TV commercial.

Sade Rissanen’s Jabberwocky was an altogether more satisfying journey: engaging, brilliant choral writing and the performance did it justice, reminding the listener what a very impressive choir the Micklegate Singers are under the direction of conductor Nicholas Carter. Best of all was Jaakko Mantyjarvi’s Four Shakespeare Songs. Come Away, Death was moving and beautifully delivered, Lullaby was utterly charming and magical with a lovely deep resonant bass cadence.

But the rhythmically bubbling Toil and Trouble was just sensational word painting: great joy for the choir and audience too.