A TRIO of talented artists from Wyre Forest will serenade classical music lovers this month in a special event at Kidderminster Town Hall.

Tenor, Russell Painter, baritone, Jonathan Darby and pianist, David Morgan are performing their Summer Serenade on Saturday, June 18. It will include a selection of much-loved baritone/tenor duets, as well as solos from operas, operettas and musicals.

The event is being promoted by the Classical Music Society and vice-chairman, Von Stewart, said she came up with the idea for it as "something different" and could not wait for it to take place.

She added the Kidderminster-based society's members had booked artists from all over Britain and abroad in the 37 years since it was formed and they were pleased to be able to support home-grown talent.

This is their first major concert to consist solely of "local" musicians, she said.

"We are looking forward to it very much because it's the first time these two singers have appeared together as a double header and it is the first time David has accompanied Jonathan, although he's played for Russell on many occasions."

She added: "Russell has a big future ahead of him - he's definitely going places.

"This is the third successive year that he has performed in a series of Gilbert and Sullivan productions in Jersey and he's appeared in the West End on many occasions.

"Jonathan returned from singing in Switzerland last week and has, of course, been popular on the local music scene for many years."

Mrs Stewart said the group usually held its live presentations at Kidderminster Library but needed a venue with a larger capacity to accommodate all the followers of the popular artistes.

The event is now being held under the banner of the 150th anniversary of the town hall.

"The concert will be something totally different from what we have done before and, obviously, David was our first choice as accompanist, having presented an evening of percussion for the society last year. He's always in demand," said Mrs Stewart.

The concert will include two piano solos of music by Handel and Debussy, as well as arias and songs by Puccini, Gilbert and Sullivan and Noel Coward, to name a few.

"The programme will, of course, include the most famous tenor/baritone duet of all - Au Fonds Du Temple Saint from The Pearl Fishers by Bizet," she said.

More information and tickets for the concert, which starts at 7.30pm, can be obtained by calling 01562 755990. They are also available from Kidderminster Library, Stourport Photo Centre and Bewdley Books.