YORKSHIRE Bach Choir open their 2016 concert diary on Saturday with Victoria's Psalms and Motets in the beautiful acoustics of St Michael le Belfrey, York.

"The magnificent sonorities and mystical fervour of the Spanish Renaissance unite in a diverse programme of psalm and motet settings by the extraordinary composer Tomás Luis de Victoria," says conductor Peter Seymour. "Our 7.30pm performance includes a range of musical settings from the joy of his Laetatus Sum in 12 parts to the contemplative intensity of his eight-part Salve Regina."

Underpinned by an organ continuo, the 7.30pm concert offers an insight into the life of this fascinating 16th century Spaniard, who was a scholar, mystic, priest, singer, organist and composer.

"Yorkshire Bach Choir have always relished performing this repertoire, which will include music specially edited for the choir from part books in the British Library for a recording of Victoria released in 2002," says Peter.

"His psalms may have been unjustly neglected and the range of colours that Victoria draws from a range of texts is amazing, from the tranquil rivers of Babylon in his psalm setting Super Flumina Babylonis to the lively antiphonal conversations of Nisi Dominus."

Tickets for Saturday's two-hour concert cost £14, concessions £12, available in person from the National Centre for Early Music, in Walmgate, on 01904 658338 or via the NCEM ticketing link, bit.ly/YBCreation.

"For a short taster of what to expect on Saturday, you can visit bit.ly/YBCBlog," says Peter.