Mezzo-soprano Juliette Pochin raised smiles with her alternative “I’m dreaming of a quiet Christmas, not like the one I had last year”, dedicated to mums destined to be busy over the festive period.

Nancy Jephson, aged 11, from Brighton, charmed everyone with her plaintiff balcony solo for the second carol Once In Royal David's City as the London Gala Orchestra, Brighton Festival Chorus and Brighton Festival Youth Choir delivered a seasonal mix of popular, serious and traditional music.

Juliette’s soaring vocals melted into the silky sound of the choir singers in the delightful O Holy Night, while the cavern-deep tones of baritone Andrew Rupp brought gravitas to the excellent For Behold and The People That Walked, from the Messiah.

The singers showed class in the glorious unaccompanied Lux Aurumque, singing high over a gentle breeze of sound in which Olivia Nagle, aged 16 from Hurstpierpoint, showed poise as soloist.

The youngsters, featuring a beguiling solo by Bronte Larsen-Disney, 16, from Brighton, met the challenges of Britten’s Ceremony Of Carols confidently, later relaxing in the jaunty Hey Father Christmas.

Audience jokes read by conductor James Morgan included: “What carol do they sing in the desert?”

“Oh camel you faithful” of course.