THE sweet sounds of three soprano singers will be a treat for Chipping Campden music lovers next week.

Campden and District Music Society is staging is first 2005 concert at St James's Church on Tuesday, January 18, when it plays host to Concerto delle Donne, a group of three top sopranos accompanied by harpsichord and organ.

The group is named after three celebrated singers of the court of Duke Alfonso of Ferrara in the 1580s. The Duke so enjoyed the female singing voice that he gathered together a Concerto delle Donne comprising the finest sopranos of the day.

They became famous throughout Italy for the beauty of their voices and their elaborate technical singing abilities.

The Concerto delle Donne of today comprises Donna Deam, Faye Newton and Gill Ross, all individual soloists with early music ensembles who have appeared all over the world.

Donna Deam is a music graduate from Chicago, Faye Newton read music at Nottingham and the Guildford School of Music and Drama and Gill Ross has a tradition with the Welsh Eisteddfod, also working with many of the major London Baroque groups. Gill is married to the director of Concerto delle Donne, Alistair Ross.

In Campden, the threesome will be singing a programme of both sacred and secular music from 17th century Italy, which will include pieces by Carissimi, Monteverdi, Frescobaldi, Rossi and Strozzi.

St James's Church, in Church Street, Campden, has been selected as a particularly suitable venue for the concert and it will begin at 8pm on Tuesday.

Tickets (£10 or 50p for under 18s and students) will be available on the door, with anyone welcome to go along. Anyone interested in joining the Campden and District Music Society can contact the treasurer on 01386 841520.