CHOIR director Stephen Williams has promised the return of traditional old favourites when the next Carols By Candlelight are staged in York Minster's Chapter House.

He conceded there had been a misjudgement at last Christmas's event, which was heavily criticised in a series of letters to the Evening Press from readers upset at the "highbrow and unknown" carols which were sung.

One reader, Walter Robinson, of Fulford, said he had long been attending the event and had enjoyed some superb evenings listening to well-known carols and some new ones, but he had been saddened by the "bizarre" choice of music this time round.

"About 90 per cent seemed new pieces, which were clearly unknown to most people judging by their long faces and comments as they left the Minster," he said.

He said choir director Stephen Williams and organist John Scott Whiteley needed to reconsider their views on what constituted entertainment. "This sort of evening is not for highbrow music lovers, but for people who enjoy listening to 'normal' Christmas carols... If it ain't broke, don't mend it."

Dennis Myers, of Bishopthorpe Road, said: "What has happened to the traditional programme of well-known carols, interspersed with a few lesser-known ones?

"This year we had to endure virtually a full programme of unknown carols.

"We were bitterly disappointed and, judging from the comments we heard as we left the Minster, we were not alone in our thoughts.

"The new choir director, Stephen Williams, has a deservedly high reputation in the musical world, but he needs reminding that most of the congregation are lovers of tuneful carols, not the highbrow stuff we had to put up with on this occasion."

Mr Williams said the letters and one complaint sent directly to the choir had been discussed by the choir committee, and it had been decided that next December's concert would have more traditional carols again, as well as some newer material.

"It's a fine balance, and we just went the wrong way," he said. "We will definitely go back to the old format next time."

Updated: 10:17 Tuesday, February 03, 2004