Hereford Choral Society’s spring concert takes place in Hereford Cathedral at 7.30 pm on Saturday, March 17 and has a distinctly French flavour. The achingly beautiful Requiem by Maurice Duruflé is coupled with Charles Gounod’s St Cecilia Mass, marking the bicentenary of this composer’s birth.

"Separated by nearly a hundred years, these two works come from the French tradition of grand choral compositions for Catholic worship, following Charpentier and Berlioz," said the society’s music director Geraint Bowen, who will conduct the concert. "Expansive and rich in scope, both take expressive liberties with strict liturgy. Gounod even included a prayer for the recently-crowned Napoleon III in his Mass in a score originally requiring six harps! Unfortunately that is beyond our budget on this occasion, but I am sure our orchestra, the Hereford Sinfonia, will make the most of the dramatic possibilities in both these works."

The Choral Society is delighted to welcome a distinguished team of solo singers: Elizabeth Roberts (soprano), Susanna Spicer's (mezzo-soprano), Mark Chaundy (tenor) and Christopher Foster (bass-baritone).

To book, call the box office at The courtyard on 01432 340555 or visit either courtyard.org.uk or herefordchoralsociety.org for online booking.