`A bouquet of Song" was the title of the evening charity recital in the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre last Tuesday. Virginia Kerr (soprano) and Paul Wynne Griffiths (piano) had assembled a programme about flowers, and showed considerable ingenuity in organising 24 songs by 20 composers into groups identified by musical style and literary concept.

With composers ranging from Scarlatti to Novello, and Bellini to Berlioz, this concert was not short on challenges for the performers. Virginia Kerr took some time to get into her best voice, and at first was inclined to an imprecision with pitching which, combined with a wide vibrato, did not help the subtle expression required in such songs as Brahms's An ein Veilchen and Schubert's Nachtviolen.

While she and Paul Wynne Griffiths achieved good ensemble, much of the piano playing was too prosaic for the material. The best pianism came in the most demanding accompaniments, such as Sibelius's Black Roses and Faure's Fleur jetee.

Once Virginia Kerr got into her stride, her middle register had a bloom, and a range of volume and colour, more pleasing than the harder sound produced when high. Her presence was commanding, while her certainty in defining each song and the consistent professionalism of her presentation proved winning.