To celebrate the 50th anniversary of their founding in 1967, Ross-on-Wye Choral Society will be performing Franz Joseph Haydn’s great secular oratorio The Seasons in St Mary’s Parish Church on Saturday, April 1. First performed in 1801, three years after The Creation which the Society performed in 2014, Haydn’s great work consists of four suites of two or three choruses interwoven with solos and ensembles by the soprano, tenor and bass soloists, one for each of the four seasons of the year. The characters are countrymen and women who sing of their work and leisure activities and the weather which each season brings. The three solo roles, Jane, Lucas and Simon are sung by soprano Lucy Bowen, tenor Ruairi Bowen and Andrew Tipple bass. The Musical and Amicable Society Orchestra accompanies and the conductor is the Society’s musical director Russell Burton.

The performance starts at 7.30pm and tickets are available from Rossiters Books, High Street, Ross-on-Wye and from the ticket secretary 01989 563328.