A 170-strong Malvern Festival Chorus will perform Bach's Mass in B Minor at the Malvern Theatres in the opening concert in its new season.

Four soloists have been lined up for the performance, on Saturday, November 29 at 7.30pm.

Tenor Ben Hulett, mezzo-soprano Vanessa Williamson, soprano Julie Kennard and bass-baritone Ian Caddy are all familiar faces following previous performances with the chorus.

Conductor Iain Sloan said: "I believe this will be a popular choice among followers of choral music, in that the B minor Mass is recognised as one of Bach's greatest achievements, ranking as it does with other momentous settings of the mass, for example Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.

"The festival chorus has a strong following in the area and we are particularly pleased to be featuring four such accomplished soloists for this performance."

Benjamin is a former choral scholar at New College, Oxford, and is regarded as one of the most promising modern tenors, while Vanessa has toured extensively around Europe and beyond, performing in Israel with the Israel Comerata. Julie has also appeared as a soloist in concert halls and cathedrals around Europe and sung Mahler's Eighth Symphony live for a TV broadcast from Dublin's Royal Festival Hall. Ian has appeared with all the major British opera companies and orchestras, in a wide variety of operas and concerts. Tickets for the Malvern concert are £8, £10 and £12 from the Malvern Theatres box office on 01684 892277.

The next event in the group's calendar will be the annual Carols for All concert at Malvern Priory on December 27, at 3pm, in aid of St Richard's Hospice.