Worcester Festival Choral Society has announced it is to perform J.S Bach's Baroque masterpiece at Worcester Cathedral in the spring - ten years after it was last performed in the city.

Composed by Bach for an Easter performance almost 300 years ago, St John Passion is a glittering musical setting of the Passion according to St John. In the work, stirring choruses and chorales from the large-scale choir represent the people and congregation. A cast of six, acclaimed soloists will also perform as the narrating Evangelist (tenor Nicholas Mulroy), Christus (bass-baritone James Newby), Pilatus (bass-baritone John Savournin), and other roles (sung by soprano Angela Hicks, mezzo soprano Sarah Denbee and tenor Alessandro Fisher). The Meridian Sinfonia will be accompanying; with Worcester Cathedral’s director of music, Samuel Hudson, conducting. 

Speaking of the forthcoming event, Ben Cooper, chairman of Worcester Festival Choral Society, said: "This concert is set to be a real musical feast. The choruses are thrilling, the chorales are moving, and we have some of the best operatic and classical soloists in the country performing with us. We can’t wait to bring this work back to Worcester after so long.”

Worcester Festival Choral Society was formed in 1861 and was closely associated with Sir Edward Elgar in its early years. Today the Society stages three major concerts in Worcester Cathedral each year, performing some of the world’s ‘great choral works’. Many of its members are also selected for the renowned Three Choirs Festival chorus each year.

St John Passion takes place at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday 19 March at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced from £15 to £25 and are available from wfcs.online, or from TicketSource on 0333 666 3366.