SOUTH Africa's leading choral society is helping in the musical celebration of Sir Edward Elgar's birthday next month.

The Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town will join the Elgar Chorale of Worcester for a performance of The Dream of Gerontius on the composer's birthday - Saturday, June 2 - at Worcester Cathedral.

Elgar Chorale's director Donald Hunt, former director of music at Worcester Cathedral, has recently conducted the Philharmonia in two performances of The Dream of Gerontius in Cape Town.

The 100th anniversary of the first performance of Gerontius in Birmingham was celebrated last year, the work being inspired by a poem by Cardinal John Henry Newman.

Soloists for the Worcester concert will be Sally Burgess, Robert Johnston and Laurence Albert and the orchestra will be English Northern Philharmonia, the orchestra of Opera North.

The Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town was formed as an oratorio choir in 1967 and is on a two week tour of the UK, which culminates in Worcester. It prides itself on being a group of singers who are continuing a great eurocentric choral tradition, while remaining definitely South African.

The previous night they will be performing at Birmingham Cathedral at 7.30pm in a programme which includes Faure's Requiem and Prayers of Praise from Africa.

Tickets for Gerontius are priced from £3 to £16 from Worcester Cathedral gift shop, Worcester Tourist Information Centre (01905 726311) or from Mrs G Wright, 8 Park View Terrace, Worcester, WR3 7AG. Tickets for Birmingham Cathedral are £5 (£3 concs) from 0121 643 2514.