Beethoven's 8th symphony is full of humour and optimism, not at all what you'd expect from a work sandwiched between the heady excitements of the 7th and the sublime architecture of the 9th. Much of it is reminiscent of the rustic cadences of the Pastoral, but without its romantic yearning for the countryside. In design it's as though Beethoven was taking one last look back at the works of Haydn.

The society made a pleasing job of the symphony under their inspirational conductor Paul Ingram. The opening Allegro Vivace was taken perhaps a little slowly, making it difficult to maintain a continuous flow between the contrasting elements, so that at times it lost some of its impetus, but from here on the orchestra were clearly having fun. The tick-tock tempo of the Allegretto that follows is Beethoven having a laugh at the metronome, newly invented by his friend Maelzel. The orchestra played it very musically, and with the necessary humour, followed by the robust, Tempo di minuetto (well done the horns!) and the final Allegro vivace . . vivace indeed!

The Mass in C is a far more serious work. It was commissioned by Prince Nicholas Esterhazy, whose family had been patrons of Haydn for so many years.

Beethoven had never written a mass before. "I shall deliver the mass to you with timidity," he said, "since you are accustomed to having the inimitable masterpieces of the great Haydn performed for you." It wasn't well received: "My dear Beethoven, what have you done here?" exclaimed the prince.

What Beethoven had done was to write a mass in his own style, rather than following the template of Haydn. What then seemed rather daring now seems simply very beautiful, but with no hint of the massive Missa Solemnis that was to come. One innovation was the omission of any real solos for the four singers (Katherine Walker, Annabel Molyneaux, Ian Barratt and Richard Weston) whose voices blended well, and who came into their own in the Benedictus, written as a quartet. The 70-strong choir, mounted on stands behind the orchestra, did a fine job throughout.