FURNESS Bach Choir performs its second concert under new musical director, Marco Bellasi, at Barrow's St James's Church on Saturday, March 24 (7.30pm) with a high profile guest at the piano. The centrepiece of the must-see concert is Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle in its original setting for two pianos and harmonium, featuring world class pianist Anthony Hewitt. Anthony is well-known to the region's audiences not only for his superb playing, but also as artistic director of Ulverston International Music Festival. The second piano part will be performed by Pascal Pascaleff, a pupil of Anthony's. Pascal is from Sofia, Bulgaria, and is the inaugural Denis Matthews Scholar at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Colin Dean, also widely known locally for his services to music, will play the harmonium and reed organ part.

The concert's four soloists are all young professional singers: soprano Sarah Ashton, has recently finished training with English National Opera; mezzo soprano Lara Harvey is now doing a masters degree at the Royal Northern College of Music; and tenor Dominic Stewart and bass David Cane, are also graduates of the Royal Northern, and both highly regarded performers.

Despite its name, Rossini's mass is by no mean small-scale, but a religious work that shows clearly his extraordinary ability as a composer. Intensely powerful, full of drama, pathos and colour, with great dynamic variation and exhilarating rhythms, it feels intimate one moment, soaring next to an awesome climax.

Tickets are available from Sutton's Bookshop in Ulverston, on 01229-837680, from choir members or at the door.