THE return of the Boyan Ensemble of Kiev to Malvern Priory on Saturday, November 16, is one of the high points on the town's music calendar.

The choir is currently making its 11th tour of the UK.

This kicked off last Saturday (November 2), at Odiham in Hampshire, and takes in the likes of Harrogate, Bath, Truro and Edinburgh.

The ensemble was hailed as a musical sensation when it made its first visit to the UK. Since then it has returned to tour annually, building up a devoted - some might say fanatical - following.

The choir's co-ordinator, Margarete Rolle of Malvern, attributes its popularity to its repertoire, which combines liturgical music of the Eastern Orthodox Church with folk songs from the Ukraine.

"The church music is haunting, spiritual and emotionally-charged," she said. "People speak of goosebumps, of tingling spines.

"Some people come for the church music and some for the folk songs, which can be sad, happy, even rowdy, but they enjoy it all."

Critical response to the choir has been exceptional.

Accolades include "arguably the most accomplished male choir in Europe" and "an enriching spiritual experience".

During the last tour, the choir's music was broadcast live on Radio 3 from a concert hall in Bristol - a recital which was repeated two months ago.

The ensemble has also been approached by British film-maker Peter Hubey to provide music for his medieval-set film Quietus.

The attention is welcome, as the state of the economy in the choir's native Ukraine is not exactly buoyant.

"These are trained professional singers but they find it difficulty to make ends meet and feed their families," said Margarete.

"Since last year, three of them have had to leave, to give up being a choir member. One has become a journalist, one sells glasses."

As a result, Boyan tours are carried out on a relative shoestring.

Ever since the first tour, a tradition has grown up of choir members staying with host families. This is an arrangement that has proved extremely popular with all concerned.

"In Penzance, which has a very loyal following, they compete to have members of the choir staying with them," said Margarete.

Tickets for the Malvern concert are available from Lyttelton House Gallery, 3 Abbey Road. Telephone 01684 574921.