The Dome Concert Hall became a candle-lit 18th century musical salon for a performance of what might best be described as the best of the Baroque.

Impresario Raymond Gubbay has the knack of bringing classical music to large audiences in an attractive way.

From Handel to Vivaldi via Purcell and other classic English Baroque music, there was some spirited playing by Gubbay's Mozart Festival Orchestra.

Dressed in powdered wigs, brocade frock coats of many colours, knee breeches and stockings with buckled shoes, there was a feast for the eye as well as the ear.

And one of the best things on the ear was Crispian Steele-Perkins, a world leader on his splendid Baroque trumpet.

In Jeremiah Clarke's Trumpet Tune and Ayre, Stanley's Trumpet Voluntary and with Handel's Let The Bright Seraphim, he produced bright, sharp and crisp sounds, beautifully piercing through the chamber orchestra strings.

Soprano Katheryn McCusker let her creamy, velvety voice loose on a trio of Handel hits from Rinaldo, Messiah and Semele.

Bach's Air on the G string, Pachelbel's Canon and Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Trumpets were all splendidly delivered and warmly received by an enthusiastic audience.

The evening ended with Antonio Vivaldi's evergreen The Four Seasons.

Under violinist David Juritz it was given a magnificent reading containing much fire and passion.