4-across – When it comes to Britten, is Pears the best interpreter? : SPINET

6-across – At the Eisteddfod, I’m sure Dafydd will offer fine Welsh music : SIDEDRUM

9-across – The music for Handel’s Saul suits the story’s theme : LITUUS

10-across – Hymns and psalms contribute to melodious Sabbaths : BASSTUBA

11-across – A super Shapiro CD has recently been released : HARPSICHORD

15-across – The first musical I ever saw was probably The King and I : SISTRUM

17-across – Elgar encourages thoughts of eternal hope in the British : ALPHORN

18-across – If you like your sound to be ethereal, avoid modern techno : VIOLADAMORE

22-across – Rock ‘n’ roll can irritate grandma : CARILLON

23-across – Here is a compilation of Chopin’s earlier nocturnes : CORNET

24-across – The maestro preferred orchestras who did what they were told : RECORDER

25-across – It’s bebop for you, ragtime for me : GUITAR

1-down – Where people meet an energy-filled goddess : VENUES

2-down – Drink to fix drink swallowed by girl : PINACOLADA

3-down – Jumbled communication when Attorney General leaves Ulster politicians : MESSEDUP

4-down – Water creature said to be under ledge – said to be beautifully slender : SYLPHISH

5-down – Allure returns : INTEREST

7-down – Flight path is shortened : ROUT

8-down – Soldiers capturing a base : MEAN

12-down – Pots storing gold salts – important ones : COMMODORES

13-down – Clown wants fish served up – old form of food : COCOANUT

14-down – One higher up the pop charts? : ANCESTOR

16-down – Scornful people about to take loathsome king and son : REVILERS

19-down – A plant? Don’t rush me, mother! Give me _____! : AMOMUM

20-down – Cliff ending in Athens with vehicle : SCAR

21-down – Man about to escape from enchantress after upset : ERIC

9-across – Partially similar to us French holding a record : ANALOGOUS

10-across – See 3 : WELLS

11-across – Butter producer a crazy lady? : SHEANUT

12-across – Tell what they say is for a winner : APPRISE

13-across – Make eyes at topless goblin : OGLE

14-across – See 3 : WELLINGTON

15-across – Alternative persons around junction of river in Syria : ORONTES

17-across – Preceding Guardian solver’s rights held in divine hands : THYRSUS

19-across – Capital under 14 : COPENHAGEN

22-across – Unusual variety of bird helps to raise me up : EMEU

23-across – Note to detective: this may follow the crime : REMORSE

24-across – Detective – this may colour what you hear : MAIGRET

26-across – Look into juice containing 14 : SALOP

27-across – Committed larceny in support of person with gun : PISTOLEER

1-down – What made St Francis love his work? : PASSIONOFCHRIST

2-down – Quality 3 won by 14 : WATERLOO

3-down – Good speller gets a spot of relief with spring in footwear : JOHN

4-down – No use being without 14s : BOOTLESS

5-down – Attack causing fool to suffer : ASSAIL

6-down – Poet’s father rounds up captive of little value : TWOPENNY

7-down – Sad song for ordinary time : PLAINT

8-down – Gracious pilgrim’s reasonable return has to acquire some ardour to be very ardent : ASKEENASMUSTARD

16-down – Guy’s number : TENTROPE

17-down – Arboreal lichen found by English doctor in lock … : TREEMOSS

18-down – … hence house containing 10 and 14 : SOMERSET

20-down – Spot politician in large building : PIMPLE

21-down – Drink at quiet river in Syria : ALEPPO

25-down – Club attached to 14’s title : IRON

1-across – Who third was cheeky and modest : PERTWEE

5-across – Who fifth took hire cars into the river : DAVISON

9-across – Who fourth and sixth would add one to twelve : BAKER

10-across – Who second found depression a heavy load : TROUGHTON

11-across – Many here articulated the three Rs : LORRYPARKS

12-across – Main demonstration heading off : ARCH

14-across – Treatment for cough that’s chesty not completed during next treatment : EXPECTORANT

18-across – He talks to tiaras, perhaps : HEADDRESSES

21-across – Desmond’s inappropriate attire? : TUTU

22-across – Marie unfortunately captured by Scottish king, beheaded, McDonalds nowhere to be seen? : UNAMERICAN

25-across – Reportedly, modern girl virtually attributed to a disease : PNEUMONIC

26-across – Material royal family almost finished after brief laugh : KHAKI

27-across – Serfs hear half-hearted greeting first : HELOTRY

28-across – Sound of wife with little pigs put on by man : YFRONTS

1-down – Footballer eating bees gains stone : PPBBLE

2-down – Croupiers, possibly right on the money, caught out : RRKERS

3-down – Line up for derby, as jittery, then play with these to relax : WORRYBEADS

4-down – More times with time in time : EXTRA

5-down – Rugby attempts diminish thrills : DROPKICKS

6-down – Star in love – Gazza? : VEGA

7-down – Asian dish restrains language shortly for a time : SATURDAY

8-down – Asian, perhaps, in town he rebuilt : NONWHITE

13-down – Batsman finally run out first is batsman at the other end : NONSTRIKER

15-down – 1996/7 car pursued by girl, when bump appears : PREGNANCY

16-down – Audacity of Shed at last accepted by stupid chap : CHUTZPAH

17-down – Who first with cunning plan’s ending in misery : HARTNELL

19-down – Who eighth finds Renault sound : MCGANN

20-down – Returns to life in 28? : UNDIES

23-down – Who seventh was the real thing : MCCOY

24-down – Athenian almost overturned skip : OMIT

7-across – : REQUIRED

9-across – : AMAZON

10-across – : OSLO

11-across – : MINDTHEGAP

12-across – : HERPES

14-across – : SHINGLES

15-across – : KITTEN

17-across – : IMPACT

20-across – : QUARTILE

22-across – : ZOSTER

23-across – : CALIBRATED

24-across – : JEST

25-across – : FLUENT

26-across – : BLACKART

1-down – : NEWSPEAK

2-down – : LUDO

3-down – : GRIMES

4-down – : XANTHISM

5-down – : WATERGLASS

6-down – : VOYAGE

8-down – : DANISH

13-down – : PETERPIPER

16-down – : EMIGRATE

18-down – : TREASURY

19-down – : YENTOB

21-down – : UNABLE

22-down – : ZODIAC

24-down – : JOKE

1-across – Answer from helpline base usual taped reply horror: so a ”’ello?’ wasted : ALLOUR

4-across – See 1 across : PLEASE

9-across – King appearing from the wings of a jet : LEAR

10-across – Ashes near win is lacking destructive bowler : SHANEWARNE

11-across – The one enlightened theologian consumed by a radiant reversal : BUDDHA

12-across – Is copied out in parts : EPISODIC

13-across – How to enter Queer Street? Certainly not! : BYNOMEANS

15-across – The force of Enid Blyton? : PLOD

16-across – He scored with workers’ ‘ousing : IVES

17-across – Joshua led rebellious, suspicious peers through this? : JUDASHOLE

21-across – Rock group supporter, Bunthorne? Get a life! Is this how things start? : MEGALITH

22-across – Good liar could be caught by a stinker! : GARLIC

24-across – Sorely pressed with such a headache? : BEDOFNAILS

25-across – See 1 across : HOLD

26-across – Tripping silver tongue works overtime to trip blatherskite : GASBAG

27-across – Admiral signed up at the Hawkins’ tavern : BENBOW

1-down – See 1 across : AREBUSY

2-down – I draw the line out East over penny dreadful : LURID

3-down – A quiet guest reappearing to steal the show : UPSTAGE

5-down – He discovered chloroform lake: that’s great! : LIEBIG

6-down – Top Iranian child minder accommodating a Scot! : AYATOLLAH

7-down – Like those effete Romantiques on pot, say : ENNUIED

8-down – Today’s leading man? Ah! Just imagine! ‘e could be, if the other one left : JAMESNAUGHTIE

14-down – See 1 across : OPERATORS

16-down – Lettuce served on the White Star Line? : ICEBERG

18-down – Busting a gut? Sue the clown! : AUGUSTE

19-down – Dying face up and down : LAIDLOW

20-down – Lucentio’s Mrs MacNab losing head over trapping one : BIANCA

23-down – In which one’s straightened out from severe habits : REHAB