Fordingbridge Choral Society will perform the music of Mozart and Haydn

THE music of Mozart and Haydn will be celebrated in a Fordingbridge Choral Society concert at St Mary’s Church.

Dedicated to the memory of longstanding member Pauline Umfreville, the singers will perform under the direction of Nigel Edwards.

Choir spokesperson Colin Burt said: “We’re performing a varied and evocative programme of Mozart and Haydn (both Franz Josef and younger brother Michael) which should provide a splendid sound in the marvellous acoustic setting of the Church.”

“Hayden’s Requiem, first performed in 1772, had Mozart and his son Leopold in the orchestra, and it’s said that Mozart’s Requiem, composed in 1791, was greatly influenced by Haydn’s masterpiece.”

“With the family connections and superb composers/musicians, our programme demonstrates the symbiotic relationship of these men.”

The concert will feature soprano Amy Carson; contralto Charlotte Tetley; tenor Edward Hastings and bass Timothy Dickinson. The Edwards Esemble will be led by Peter Bussereau.

Colin added: “This concert is being dedicated to our dear friend and fellow choir member Pauline Umfreville who sadly died a short while back aged 89.”

Fordingbridge Choral Society currently has around 40 members drawn from the town and its surrounding villages. The choral society’s repertoire ranges from madrigals and part songs to the great choral masterpieces including Bach, Brahms, Britten, Handel, Bernstein, Purcell and Haydn. Large concerts are usually performed in the 12th Century St. Mary’s Church in Fordingbridge, but the group also appears in other venues throughout the area.

Fordingbridge Choral Society will be in concert at 7pm on Saturday 3rd May. Tickets are priced £15 in advance from www.ticketsource.co.uk/fordingbridgechoral or £18 on the door; with under 18s admitted free. Tickets include a free drink. For more information call 01425 656348.