Celebrating the movies of a violent misogynist in a house of worship seems like the sort of thing that might have caused controversy even just a few years ago, but cathedrals – and to a lesser extent 007 – are definitely moving with the times, becoming all things to all people. The theme tunes of the movies appeal to a wide demographic too. Typically the work of John Barry or more recently David Arnold, they’ve almost all been performed by the popular artists of the day, whether that’s Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Paul McCartney, Duran Duran, Madonna, Adele or Sam Smith (although Radiohead’s proposed Spectre theme was far superior).

There’s a thread running through most of the tunes – usually Monty Norman’s Bond theme motif from Dr No – but the variety of artists and styles made for an interesting musical history lesson during this 75-minute show, which covered the 60-plus years the spy has been gracing our screens.

Performed by The Limelight Orchestra and four accompanying vocalists in the stunning surrounds of Coventry Cathedral’s nave, the concert ticked pretty much all the boxes, with on-the-money readings of some great tunes and some genuinely terrific vocal performances.

The female singers were made up of avid Coventry City supporter Cara (“I have been a professional vocalist for many years, but I’ve been a Sky Blues fan my whole life”) Dudgeon, who belted out the likes of Diamonds Are Forever and Skyfall with consummate gusto, alongside Tiffany Jackson (especially strong during License To Kill) and Kate Williams, whose Goldfinger was an early highlight. Token male vocalist Gareth Wynne had the widest variety of styles to perform, but coped admirably with Thunderball, Writing’s On The Wall (Spectre) and The Living Daylights, although the latter would surely have benefited from some backing vocals to better replicate A-Ha’s original – as evidenced by the girls joining in for a terrific rendition of Live And Let Die at the finale.

Given the talent on stage it seemed a little incongruous for the orchestra to play along with a recording of Louis Armstrong for We Have All The Time In The World (a classic of the canon despite not being a bona fide Bond theme), and From Russia With Love and A View To A Kill were notable absentees, but these were minor gripes on a night where the audience might not have been shaken, but were almost certainly stirred.

4 stars

Reviewed by Steve Adams at Coventry Cathedral on Saturday 20 July.