CHEPSTOW Male Voice Choir sprang to the rescue when they heard top violinist Nigel Kennedy was recording locally and desperately needed some backing.

With only five days' notice a request came to perform with Kennedy in a CD recording he was making at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth.

Despite never having seen or heard the music the challenge was accepted and on Thursday a large proportion of the choir with musical director Karl Daymond and accompanist Rosemarie Lewis descended on the studios.

Before starting Nigel put the finishing touches to the four-part arrangement of the music, a major job in itself.

The choir warmed up by singing Freddie Mercury's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' which, of course, was first recorded at Rockfield 30-odd years ago. Furthermore, the piano used in that recording was the same that was to be used by Rosemarie, who was performing on her birthday!

There followed four hours of rehearsing, recording and checking, with the choir having to learn the music from scratch.

•Chepstow Male Voice Choir's annual Christmas Concert is on Saturday December 19 this year at Chepstow Leisure Centre (7pm). Tickets are available from the Leisure Centre; the Herbert Lewis store; the Tourist Information Centre or any member of the choir.