‘I’ve told Harvey that I’ve written a very simple parable, and he has made it very hard to perform,” librettist James Runcie cheerfully proclaimed before the world premiere of Into the Light. He added that the piece was about both Iconium, and Wantage on a Saturday night – perhaps appropriately wide-ranging, for this is a community oratorio, commissioned by Wantage PCC as part of an extensive Arts Council-funded project, which has also seen a major refurbishment of the parish church.

Runcie’s parable is bolted on to the traditional story of Thecla, a young Christian woman in first century Turkey, who rejects oppression and the threat of execution to fulfil her destiny. With music by Harvey Brough (Harvey of Harvey and the Wallbangers), the premiere involved the choirs of Charlton and Compton primary schools, and Wantage’s most impressive church choir. Professional instrumentalists were augmented by members of Wantage Silver Band.

At first, the combined forces produced rather a mish-mash of sound, over which the scene-setting words of narrator Steve Player did not exactly soar. Hardly surprisingly on such a great occasion, there was an air of nervousness all round. But as the drum section began to establish a gentle rhythm under the words “The town is built along a river, there’s a market and a school” the performance got – literally – into its swing.

Composer Brough has supplied spare, but effective, instrumentation for a score that intermixes jazz, dance, and a sprinkle of Arabic spice. The church choir is used both prayerfully, and for antagonistic crowd scenes, while the children cleanse the air at intervals with the carol-like Star Light.

Into the Light is at its most memorable when it builds to a big climax – thanks, not least, to hugely committed performances from all concerned, and firm, clear conducting from Andrew Parrott. Equally committed were the four top-rank professional soloists, Clara Sanabras, Mark Le Brocq, Christopher Purves, and Colin Baldy.