Composed at the start of the 20th century, Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony sets to music the symbolist ideas that found spiritual expression through poet Walt Whitman.

The complexities of this choral symphony were nobly surmounted under Derek Williams's direction. The augmented Nottingham Symphony Orchestra reconciled poetic detail with blazing grandeur. The combined singing of Derby Bach Choir, the Sinfonia Chorale and Loughborough University Choir was focused, colourful and gripping.

The voices of two youthful soloists - local product Rebecca von Lipinski and Brazilian baritone Mario Solimene - were the evening's crowning glory.

The concert opened with the near-Straussian sounds of Respighi's Fountains of Rome, ranging from delicate impressions to blazing power in a journey from dawn to dusk.

Gifted young cellist Michael Wigram and his Italian instrument won over the packed hall in the mercurial writing of Elgar's Cello Concerto.