MALVERN Festival Chorus is celebrating its centenary season and, for the first time in its history, will be performing Bach's glorious St Matthew Passion in the majestic surroundings of Worcester Cathedral on Saturday, March 14 at 7.30pm.

The work will be sung in the original German, enhancing the drama of one of Bach's finest compositions.

Although the choir has never performed in Worcester Cathedral before, it has had a link with it since it was founded in 1920.

For the first eight years of its existence, the conductor of Malvern Choral Society, as it was then known, was Sir Ivor Atkins, Choirmaster and Organist at the cathedral from 1897-1950.

In addition to conducting the Three Choirs Festival during this time, Sir Ivor was a champion of the music of Sir Edward Elgar and worked with the composer on an edition of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, the work Malvern Festival Chorus will be performing.

The choir is delighted to be joined by their president, internationally-acclaimed tenor James Oxley, singing The Evangelist under the baton of musical director, Jonathan Brown, with accompaniment from period instrument ensemble, Musical and Amicable Society.

Mr Brown said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the choir to showcase its talents in one of the foremost choral music venues in the county.

"A key part of our centenary season is to reach out to new audiences and introduce more people of all ages to the joys of choral music.” Tickets are available from Worcester Live on 01905 611427 or online at Worcester Live www.worcesterlive.co.uk

Full details of this concert and all the centenary events can be found on the choir’s website at www.malvernfestivalchorus.co.uk or find them on Facebook or Twitter.