YORKSHIRE Bach Choir will open the new year with a February 4 concert focussing on the greatest German composer of the seventeenth century, Heinrich Schütz, at St Michael le Belfrey, York.

On his return from studies with Monteverdi in Venice, Schütz settled in Dresden, where he became Kappellmeister at the Elector’s court, creating a musical style both innovative and traditional and as beautiful as it was austere.

Yorkshire Bach Choir will showcase this diversity, from Schütz's expressive, trailblazing settings of the Passion story to the sonorous vocal textures of his colourful psalms.

Conductor Peter Seymour says: "This concert will feature a wide range of music from this wonderful, sometimes underrated composer. The Musikalische Exequien was the first requiem setting in the German language, and his innovative St John Passion was a forerunner of JS Bach’s more celebrated setting.

"We'll be joined by tenor Jonathan Hanley as the Evangelist. He's an alumnus of Yorkshire Bach Choir who, in addition to several engagements as a solo singer, is a lay clerk at Peterborough Cathedral."

Tickets for Heinrich Schütz At The Dresden Court are available at £14, concessions £12, students £5, at ncem.co.uk, on 01904 658338, in person from the National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate, or on the door.

Looking forward to the 7.30pm concert, Seymour concludes: "As always, it is fantastic to being singing these sonorous, mostly eight part choruses in the unrivalled acoustic of St Michael le Belfrey."