What the World Needs Now is Love. Love and sweet harmony; precisely what the excellent quartet of singers gave us, with a real feel for the joy of singing some of Burt Bacharach’s most memorable melodies. Melodies that have helped many-a-familiar name, such as Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones and The Carpenters well on the road of stardom.

Under the baton of Richard Balcombe the BSO readily swung into their supportive role that made many Magic Moments- charmingly filled- by Graham Bickley whose jolly introductions added to the enjoyment.

There is something suspiciously classical about the name Bach-a-rach! And lessons from composers like Milhaud and Martinu were well learned. The gift of melody permeates his most popular pieces and Anyone Who Had Heart would have loved Mary Carewe’s powerful and passionate account of Cilla Black’s hit single.

We were favoured with a gorgeous performance of The Look of Love from Alison Jiear besides her super singing in Always Something There to Remind Me. Sarah Lark’s upbeat Wishin’ and Hopin’ along with a rich, dreamy This Girl’s in Love With You were just two of her distinctively captivating contributions.

As a quartet Aretha Franklin’s hit, I Say a Little Prayer was brilliantly reprised as one of two encores, but with some thirty numbers to choose from I’m going to Make it Easy on (myself), however many Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head, and say I know what will be buzzing in my head 24 Hours From (now)! At 85, the Bacharach legend lives on.