A CONCERT of musical contrasts gets the 25th International Organ Festival in St Albans underway next Saturday, July 11. St Albans Bach Choir is performing two very different choral works at the concert in the Abbey which starts at 7.30pm. The choir will b

A CONCERT of musical contrasts gets the 25th International Organ Festival in St Albans underway next Saturday, July 11.

St Albans Bach Choir is performing two very different choral works at the concert in the Abbey which starts at 7.30pm.

The choir will be singing Poulenc's lively and tuneful Gloria with its sparkling, almost jazzy rhythms in some movements and sensuous textures accompanying the soprano soloist.

By contrast, the choir will also be performing Brahms' German Requiem, one of the pinnacles of the 19th century German Romantic repertoire with its settings of biblical verses chosen by the composer himself.

The soloists for the two works will be soprano Julie Kennard and bass-baritone Michael George.

As a foil to the choral feast, there will also be a performance of Poulenc's Organ Concerto which puts the spotlight on the newly-restored Cathedral organ and the choir's regular orchestra Sinfonia Verdi.

The soloist is the internationally-renowned organist John Scott, a former colleague of the choir's musical director Andrew Lucas when they both worked at St Paul's Cathedral.

Andrew said: "Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem is one of the greatest large choral works and was the first piece I experienced as a young singer with an orchestral accompaniment. The powerful effect it had, especially the emotional depth of the music in reaction to the words, is just as great now."

Tickets at �25, �21 and �18 reserved and �5 unreserved are available from the Abbey Information Desk on 01727 890256.