ACTOR Timothy West returns to St Albans to narrate a performance of Petr Eben’s dramatic organ work Faust next Saturday, November 10.

The soloist at the concert in St Albans Abbey from 5.30pm will be the International Organ Festival’s artistic director David Titterington.

Petr Eben was commissioned by the Burgtheater in Vienna to write music to accompany the Goethe play which he later transcribed for organ.

The music is a work of contrasts set around the struggle between good and evil in the person of Faust. The organ portrays the range of these characteristics by presenting the venerable, traditional style of the instrument but also by mimicking the triviality of a barrel organ.

Over a four decade-plus career, Timothy West has established himself as one of Britain’s most versatile actors noted for his great power and command on the classical stage and on radio, film and television.

He is perhaps best known on the screen for his work as a character actor, though it is his stage performances, especially in Shakespeare, which have won him the greatest acclaim.

David Titterington is one of the world’s leading concert organists. He made his debut at the Royal Festival Hall in 1986 and has since played in many of the great international festivals and concert halls.

He was appointed head of organ studies at the Royal Academy of Music in 1996 and was awarded Honorary Membership in 2008. Numerous leading composers have written for him, including Petr Eben (Job 1984), Diana Burrell and Lionel Rogg.

Entrance to the concert is free with a retiring collection in aid of the International Organ Festival Society.

Full details of all the concerts in the 2012-2013 series can be found at www.organfestival.com