Miriam Makeba, Salisbury Cathedral

AT the age of 72, great-grandmother Miriam Makeba knows how to captivate an audience.

Those who gathered at Salisbury Cathedral were entranced by the South African songstress. Her voice, strong and pure, wafted around the beautiful building as she wove her magic.

Dressed in a bright orange dress, she sashayed around the stage caught up in the rhythms created by her talented band. She introduced her backing singers - there was Innocent (but she confided that he was not so innocent) and there was the Quiet One.

Together they created an exquisite blend of music that could not help but lift the soul.

Speaking of South Africa's troubled past, Miriam said it was only through the support of people in Britain that she was able to perform in places like Salisbury.

It was a long way from the townships, said Miriam and she was glad to have been invited to perform at the last event of the Salisbury Festival. It was a magical way to bring the curtain down on the 2004 season.