KENDAL Choral Society's spring concert features a first for Cumbria - a performance of Bob Chilcot's St John Passion.

Hot on the heels of the choral society's hugely successful Armed Man, Come and Sing, director of music Duncan Lloyd's classy choristers head to Kendal's St Thomas’ Church, on Saturday, April 16 (7.30pm), to perform - among other works - Bob's mighty setting of words from St John’s Gospel: a dramatic yet optimistic retelling of the Passiontide story. The relatively new work combines 13th and 17th Century English poetry with the King James Bible text settings and, as with Bach’s great Passion settings, the role of the Evangelist is taken by the tenor soloist, who provides a melodious narrative throughout. Including five well-known hymn texts set to new, original melodies, the beautiful piece is one many of Bob Chilcott’s large-scale pieces, and confirms his standing as one of the world’s most popular choral composers.

Bob's St John Passion was created for Matthew Owens and the Choir of Wells Cathedral and first performed by them in the cathedral on Palm Sunday in March 2013.

It opens to the suffering and submission of Christ’s Passion through words that speak of victory in death.

The April 16 performance will also be graced by an illustrious group of soloists that includes soprano, Clare Eccles, who has just returned to live in Kendal after studying music at Leeds; tenor, Nick Hurndall-Smith and bass, John Lofthouse, who sing the parts of Jesus and John in St John Passion. The Westmorland Youth Orchestra’s principal cellist, Keir McGregor, who is also a member of Levens Choir, will sing the bass solo of Pilate, and one of the region's best-known music figures, Anastasia Mickelthwaite, head of music at Sedbergh Casterton Prep who thrilled the audience at the KCS's Armed Man with her superb lute and piccolo playing, will also be in the soloist spotlight as alto.

The string ensemble will be led by Julian Cann, organ courtesy of Ian Pattinson with continuo from Michael Critchlow.

Talented young cellist, and former WYO's leader, Daniel Crompton, plays solo cello.

The spring concert also features Pergolesi's Magnificat and John Stanley's Concerto for strings and organ No 2 in B minor.

Tickets are available from Made in Cumbria, 48a Branthwaite Brow, Kendal, or by telephone 01539-730702 or at the door.