GREAT tunes, big choruses, melting solos and marvellous orchestral sounds blend brilliantly in what promises to be one of the choral performances of the year on Saturday (July 8).

Cumbria Festival Chorus stage Mendelssohn’s blockbuster Elijah with more than 100 singers taking part in the 'come and sing' event from all over the north west.

A major choral weekend put together to coincide with Mary Wakefield Westmorland Music Festival year, CFC meets in the evening of Friday, July 7, at St Thomas’s Church for the first rehearsal with the chorus; the singers gather again on the Saturday morning.

On Saturday afternoon the soloists and orchestra join for a full rehearsal before the whole ensemble of singers and musicians conducted by master of all things choral, Ian Jones, perform the whole monumental piece at St Thomas’s at 7pm.

An important feature of the performance will be the semi-chorus of talented singers from Kirkby Lonsdale's Queen Elizabeth School.

Elijah is an extremely popular piece.

The story of the Old Testament prophet, the challenges he faced in a largely heathen society, his efforts to persuade people what they should believe, the threats to his life, the spectacular way he restored a child to life and brought down, first, fire from heaven and then, later, rain, are all recounted in words and music of tremendous power.

The four highly respected soloists will be soprano, Emily Robinson as Queen Jezebel, bass, John Pratt as Elijah, alto, Gill Smith and tenor, Jim Bloomer - all well known voices who have been involved with several recent CFC projects.

Led by Pam Redman, the orchestra brings together some of the region's finest instrumentalists.

Tickets will be available at the door or in advance from 01539-733944.