HALFWAY through Welsh Proms Week, founder and conductor Owain Arwel Hughes must be delighted with the way the event is progressing this year.

After several hugely successful concerts, last night was the turn of two long-standing Welsh traditions to fill St David’s Hall -– as the Cory Band and three male voice choirs entertained another packed house and received an overwhelming standing ovation at the end.

The Pendyrus, Dunvant and Cor Meibion Taf male choirs combined to make one choir more thanover 130-men strong –- a stunning sight and a magnificent blended sound.

Their repertoire was perhaps a little predictable –- Gwahoddiad, Myfanwy, Speed your Journey, Cwm Rhondda and Morte Christe, were all trotted out -– but in fairness that was probably what the audience was expecting and hoping for.

The Cory Band, presently the Welsh champions of brass bands, were on fine form and came into their own in the second half with the moving Bizet’s Pearl Fishers Duet, with some fine percussion throughout, and especially in the Saint Saens Organ Symphony.

Just occasionally when the choir and band played together, they seemed a little out of time, but this didn’t mar the overall enjoyment.

The evening ended with the well-known Arwel Hughes hymn Tydi a Roddaist, which brought the audience to its feet after the wonderful Amen section that fills its final seconds.

Hughes was persuaded into an encore by the enthusiastic audience -– and band and choir finished a wonderful evening with a perfect rendition of Christ Iis Eternal.