Being Both started life as a conversation, and is now headed for the Proms.

After studying together at the Guildhall School, mezzo-soprano Alice Cootes and director Susannah Waters discovered a shared interest in appearance and gender in opera, particularly the nuances of gender in Handel’s operatic music.

Their programme was an incredible challenge, an hour-and-a-half of back-to-back arias in a variety of ranges and moods.

Coote - who has previously performed with the English National Opera and more - not only sang each piece beautifully, but kept up an emotive and energetic theatrical accompaniment, using props, costumes and movement to challenge the original meaning of the music.

Under Water’s direction, He Was Despised from Handel’s Messiah suggested self-loathing, while in Myself I Shall Adore, from Semele, Coote dressed in wings, armour, an apron and a chalkboard.

She was accompanied by three silent performers and The English Concert, a baroque orchestra playing on period instruments.

On the stage with Coote the orchestra were mesmerising, particularly when soloists left the ensemble to interact with other performers.

There were moments when the theatricals nearly overshadowed the music, but Coote’s voice still held the audience spellbound.

A brilliant performance of some of Handel’s most beautiful music.

Four stars