Apollo e Dafne, performed as part of this year's Summer Opera Festival, is the kind of music one would expect to hear in Oxford. Intelligently and sensitively interpreted, it was performed with confidence at the Holywell music rooms, a venue ideal for this small-scale but significant work.

The cantata has a simple plot, and lasts under an hour in total, so works well as a showcase for the talents of three accomplished young musicians. Although this is an early work from Handel's composing career, it is clearly technically demanding, with numerous wide leaps, florid passages and an intensity of emotion. The score is buoyant and full of energy, and singers Jane Harrington and Edwin Hawkes rose to these musical challenges with ease.

Intelligence is key to the performance of such a work as this, and it was clear that the singers and harpsichordist Tristan Russcher were well aware of the stylistic requirements of the music. Miss Harrington's rich, bright voice seemed particularly well-suited to this kind of dramatic early music, since she is able to combine clarity of tone with great breadth of expression. Fleeting lapses in intonation did not detract from Mr Hawkes' interpretation of the dominant role of Apollo.

Just as important, however, is the expression of emotion and drama, and in this respect, both singers were a joy to watch, as they managed to capture the drama inherent in the music through their own infectious enjoyment of the music. The characters were brought to life not only through the music but also through their lively expressions and freedom of movement, particularly in the brief arias that provided moments of reflection.

It was a treat to be able to enjoy serious music without gimmicks or distractions, and the artists and organisers of this piece are to be congratulated on having carried off a performance that was such a pleasure to hear. I'm sure this is just what Handel himself would have intended.

Olivia Rowland, 31.08.02