HEREFORD Choral Society will perform two contrasting works at their spring concert in Hereford Cathedral on Saturday, March 25: Stabat mater by Francis Poulenc and Harmoniemesse by Franz Joseph Haydn.

The Stabat mater is a medieval poem describing Mary the mother of Jesus mourning for her crucified son at the foot of the cross, which has been set to music by many composers, including Dvorak, whose romantic setting Hereford Choral Society performed last November. Poulenc wrote his version in memory of the artist Christian Berard, a fashion illustrator and theatrical designer who had worked with Coco Chanel, Nina Ricci and Elsa Schiaparelli, among others, and who died suddenly in 1949 at the age of 46.

Haydn’s Harmoniemesse takes its nickname from the German word ‘Harmonie’, meaning wind instruments, because it was written in 1802 for an orchestra that had recently been expanded after a period when the Austrian emperors had prohibited elaborate church music. In addition to kettledrums, strings and organ, the orchestra for the Harmoniemesse includes flute, oboes, clarinets, bassoons and trumpets. It was written for the ‘name day’ of Maria Hermenegild, the wife of Haydn’s employer, Prince Nicolaus Esterhazy, and is one of the composer’s last large-scale works.

Soloists in Hereford Choral Society’s performance are Sophie Gallagher (soprano), Ciara Hendrick (mezzo-soprano, replacing Jessica Gillingwater who was previously advertised), Simon Wall (tenor) and Alex Ashworth (baritone).

Tickets are available from The Courtyard's box office on 01432 340555 or visit courtyard.org.uk or herefordchoralsociety.org.