What a shame there were not more people to enjoy Orchestra of Square Chapel's fine concert last night under Lawrence Killian's expressive direction.

The first half consisted of two contrasting works by Brahms.

The Academic Festival Overture was written in 1880 for Breslau University which had honoured him for being "the foremost composer of serious music today". It is a celebration of youth, free of care, and the orchestra's crisp bright tone and lively paces brought out the optimism of Brahms' symphonic medley of students' drinking songs perfectly.

The Four Serious Songs composed in 1896 were musical meditations on his own imminent death, very serious music indeed. Rowena Burton conveyed their unflinching, uncompromising Biblical texts with power and authority but with little gradation in tone, sympathetically accompanied by the orchestra.

Beethoven described his Symphony No 6 (Pastoral), written in 1808 at the age of 33 as "more an expression of feelings than a painting". For most listeners this musical celebration of the countryside is both visually and emotionally explicit. A warm glow suffused the sunny first movement. Sparkling, delicate woodwind and sweet smooth strings conveyed the dappling brook complete with jokey birdsong. The tension after the jolly rustic dances was palpable before the storm released its terrifying barrage of brass and timpani. The serene beauty of the last movement was eyeprickingly beautiful. It was a superb performance.