The London Handel Players, under the leadership of Adrian Butterfield, demonstrated the great variety of textures and sound colours achieved by composers writing for strings in Germany, Italy, Holland and England.
These included the Dutch nobleman Count Wassenaer whose identity was, until recently, a mystery. His Concerto Armonico displays his distinctive style and its lively dance-like finale proved a perfect vehicle for the skills of the two violinists, Adrian Butterfield and Oliver Webber, both soloists of international acclaim.
Bach's A major harpsichord concerto gave the audience the opportunity to enjoy the virtuoso talents of the society's co-director of music, Laurence Cummings, who is well-known for his regular television and radio performances as harpsichordist and conductor, and is head of historical performance at the Royal Academy of Music.
Works by Vivaldi, Purcell and Handel led to the undoubted climax of the evening, the sublime Bach double violin concerto in D minor. The triumphant and energetic finale brought rapturous applause from the capacity audience who were rewarded with an extra lollipop from the works of Count Wassenaer.
The final concert of the festival was conducted by the society's founder and co-director, Denys Darlow whose energy and enthusiasm belie the fact that he recently celebrated his 80th birthday.
The celebratory nature of the evening was enhanced by the brilliant baroque trumpet playing of David Hendry in the fanfare-like overture to Atalanta and the cantata, Diana the Huntress, which closed the concert, both being rarely heard works by Handel.
Rachel Nichols's powerful and dramatic soprano was complemented by the lighter tone of Camilla Darlow in a charming duet between Diana and Echo.
James Eastaway, a frequent visitor to Tilford, introduced the audience to another little-known 18th century composer in his sparkling performance of Woodcock's oboe concerto. He also performed the beautiful oboe obbligato in Bach's cantata, Come let us go up to Jerusalem, a work that has the emotional depth of the great Passions.
The contrast of Christopher Dixon's rich bass tones and Simon Baker's pure counter- tenor made this a moving and memorable experience. Laurence Cummings provided the organ continuo and surprised the audience with his versatility as he sang the tenor recitative. Is there no end to this man's talents?
Throughout this varied concert the London Handel Orchestra, under the leadership of Adrian Butterfield, played with a warmth of tone and homogeneity, achieving perfect balance between the various baroque instruments.
In a tribute to Denys Darlow, Adrian Butterfield remarked that it is one thing to found a music festival but quite another to keep it going for 49 years, and there are exciting plans afoot to celebrate the society's golden jubilee next June.
Rosemary Wisbey