YORKSHIRE Bach Choir will perform Bach's St Matthew Passion at St Michael le Belfrey, York, on March 16.

Bach's work contrasts the vivid, harrowing drama of the story with the exquisitely poetic and redemptive music.

Conductor Peter Seymour says: "Matthew Passion is a really appropriate piece to have at the centre of our 40th anniversary season as it is one of Bach’s greatest works.

"The Passion story elicits from Bach music of deeply felt devotion and also enormous compositional complexity. As always with Bach, all-encompassing drama is reflected in the instrumental accompaniment, which will no doubt come across readily in the vivid, colourful playing of the Yorkshire Baroque Soloists.

"We'll also be joined by two brilliant vocal soloists who are pre-eminent interpreters of this particular score."

Those soloists will be Charles Daniels in the role of the Evangelist and Peter Harvey's Christus.

"Please note the earlier 7pm start, for what promises to be a real musical highlight of the Lenten period as we move towards Easter," says Peter.

Tickets are on sale at £25, concessions £23, students £5, on 01904 658338 or at ncem.co.uk.

A photo of Charles Daniels is attached for publicity purposes. Photo credit Annelies van der Vegt.