SOME of the most stirring and triumphal works in the choral repertoire will be performed at Harpenden High Street Methodist Church next Saturday, March 19.

Harpenden Choral Society is putting on the concert which will include The Cantata from Mendelssohn’s Hymn of Praise, Beethoven’s Fidelio Overture and Handel’s Coronation Anthems including Zadok the Priest.

Handel’s first commission as a naturalised British citizen was to write the music for the coronation of King George II and Queen Caroline in 1727 and the four pieces have remained hugely popular with audiences ever since.

Mendelssohn gave the first British performance of the Hymn of Praise at the Birmingham Festival in 1840 and it proved to be a great success. It was among the composer’s favourite works and the rousing cantata, often performed separately from the symphony as the Choral Society is going to do, remains a firm favourite with choral groups.

The two works will be complemented by the King’s Sinfonietta’s performance of Beethoven’s Fidelio Overture, a work that exemplifies the virtues of hope and heroism.

The concert begins at 7.30pm and tickets are �12 for adults and �3 for children and students, are available from Creature Comforts in Vaughan Road, Harpenden, or through the box office manager on 01582 833073. Alternatively book online at www.harpendensociety.org