BY PAUL FISHER

HURRICANE Bertha came to All Saints Church Merriott on Sunday afternoon earlier this August in the form of the Valido String Quartet. 

A dramatic classical concert was performed by the London-based quartet on August 10 to a packed church of over 150, in Merriott, on a blustery Sunday afternoon, covering works by Janacek, Debussy and Schubert with a Shostakovich encore. 

Schubert’s Death and the Maiden in particular had the audience transfixed, followed by rapturous applause as the concert ended. 

The audience were drawn from a wide surrounding area of over 20 miles including Somerton, Bridport, Sherborne and Wincanton to Chard, as well as the residents of Merriott, and the event raised over £740 towards the church’s fabric repairs. 

This was the 11th concert organised by London-based Violist, Joseph Fisher formerly from Merriott, and who has amassed a significant following of appreciative classical music lovers to his concerts. 

Over the last five years he has brought over 24 international classical artists from ten countries to perform at the village church, with over 1,400 attending he has raised in excess of £7,000 for the church and community related projects. 

His next concert is the established Carols & Classics Christmas concert on December 13.