It was a shame to see Dorchester Abbey barely half full on Saturday night, because this was a concert of exceptional quality. From the moment the Ionian Singers opened their mouths, they commanded the attention with their ravishing sound, and their obvious commitment and musicality. Under the baton of conductor/composer Timothy Salter the ensemble tackled a wide-ranging repertoire, from Salter’s arrangements of English folk songs to music of the 19th and early 20th centuries, all unaccompanied but impeccable in pitch and tone throughout.

Familiar composers — such as Saint-Saëns, Hindemith and Ravel — were effortlessly interwoven with little-known gems, such as the gorgeous Two Roses by César Cui, which tells the tragic tale of two faded blooms buried alongside a young bride, and was treated here with great warmth and sensitivity. Then there was the equally lovely Sun and Moon by Alexander Grechaninov, with its subtle ornamentation, carefully drawn out and clearly relished by the singers. There was a lighter feel to the five madrigals by Bohuslav Martinu, which painted a rustic picture of paddling geese and a rider galloping over rivers and mountains to meet his beloved — who, according to local rumour, may be a witch.

A collection of cello pieces was performed by Sarah Suckling and accompanied by Timothy Salter. In Fauré’s sublime Sicilienne and Saint-Saëns’ evergreen The Swan from The Carnival of the Animals, Miss Suckling produced a rich, mellifluous tone, with some wonderfully expansive bowing, while meeting the technical challenges of Martinu’s Arabesques: Etudes Rhythmiques with energy and assurance. Just occasionally — such as in Martinu’s Poco allegro — the piano all but drowned out the soloist, but otherwise these were impressive performances.

This was an intriguing and adventurous programme, which reflected the Ionian Singers’ policy of seeking out little-known repertoire of the last 400 years.

For more information, visit www.ioniansingers.co.uk