Great choral works at Worcester Cathedral

The Worcester Festival Choral Society will perform major choral works by Vaughan Williams, Dvorak, Brahms and Borodin on Saturday March 12, from 7.30pm.

And the choir will be supported by "leading operatic and concert soloists".

A spokesman said: "The varied concert begins with great British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’s stunning, 1936 cantata Dona Nobis Pacem – Latin for ‘Grant Us Peace’ – in which he makes a moving plea for peace amidst fears concerning the approaching Second World War. "The choir also performs one of Czech composer Antonin Dvo?ák’s finest choral works, Te Deum; and the beautiful Alto Rhapsody by Johannes Brahms."

The spokesman added:"Rounding off the evening is the thrilling Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince Igor by Russian composer Alexander Borodin, a huge audience favourite."

Performing with the choir will be three, internationally acclaimed soloists.

These are the award-winning soprano Katherine Crompton; the Royal Opera House and recording mezzo-soprano Deborah Miles, and the National Opera Studio bass Timothy Dickinson.

The concert is supported by the Meridian Sinfonia orchestra and conducted by Worcester Cathedral director of music. Peter Nardone.

Ben Cooper, chairman of Worcester Festival Choral Society, said: “This is going to be a bumper ‘Spring Spectacular’ concert. Each of the works has their own very definite character, from moments of stirring reflection to huge excitement, ensuring something for every music lover.”

Established in 1861, Worcester Festival Choral Society comprises around 140 auditioned singers drawn from across the county and beyond. The society stages three major concerts in Worcester Cathedral each year, performing some of the world’s great choral works. Many of its members perform in the annual Three Choirs Festival, which last year celebrated its 300th anniversary.

Tickets and further for the concert are available on 01905 611427 and at www.worcesterfestivalchoralsociety.org.uk