THE acclaimed Wordsworth Singers will see out their year as the first Cumbria Life Choir of the Year with a concert St George’s Church, Kendal, on Sunday (November 20), celebrating 'miracol d’amore,' the Miracle of Love.

The choir’s 35 members, who hail from all across Cumbria, will be directed by Mark Hindley in a performance of Monteverdi’s glorious Mass In illo tempore composed in 1610, and a cycle of six Fire Songs by American composer Morten Lauridsen - modern, passionate settings of Italian Renaissance love poetry inspired by the famous madrigals of Monteverdi and his contemporaries. Solo instrumental interludes will be provided by lutenist Eric Thomas of Edinburgh. He will play a selection of pieces on the theorbo, an impressively large and deeper-sounding version of the lute.

Cremona-born Claudio Monteverdi began composing at an early age and had his first book of three-part motets published in Venice when he was only 15. He is regarded as a crucial figure in the transition between the Renaissance and Baroque music periods.

In 1587, he published the first of nine books of madrigals. This remarkable run was capped by his appointment at the Court of Mantua in 1592, initially as a viol player.

Monteverdi married one of the court singers, Claudia de Cataneis.

By the time he was appointed maestro di cappella at Mantua in 1601, he was widely recognised as a distinguished composer, a reputation further enhanced by the publication of his fourth and fifth Book of Madrigals in 1603 and 1605.

The revered Italian's period in Venice proved a fitting climax to his career. In 1619 he published his seventh Book of Madrigals, which further developed the harmonic audacity of his previous volumes, while in 1624 his hybrid entertainment, Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, created a sensation at its premiere.

Born in 1943, Morten Lauridsen has gained a reputation as one of the greatest living American composers for his vocal music and has been Professor of Composition at the University of Los Angeles' Thornton School of Music for more than 35 years.

He has written seven vocal cycles. In 2007, Morten received the USA government’s highest honour given to artists, the National Medal of Arts, 'for his composition of radiant choral works combining musical beauty, power and spiritual depth that have thrilled audiences worldwide.'

Sunday's concert begins at 4pm and includes an interval when refreshments will be served and concertgoers can chat with conductor Mark, lutenist Eric and members of the choir.

Tickets are available from Kendal Tourist Information Centre, 48 Branthwaite Brow, on www.wordsworthsingers.org.uk or by telephone 01228-536146.

Meanwhile, the Wordsworth Singers perform the same Miracle of Love programme at Carlisle's Austin Friars School on Saturday, November 19 (7.30pm).