FOUR choral classics will be performed by Guisborough Choral Society at its spring concert on Saturday, April 25.

These include the Bach motet Jesu meine Freude sung in its English version, Jesus my great pleasure.

The short work displays many of the qualities of Bach's greatest choral music, with its poignant setting of a Lutheran hymn, flawless counterpoint, dramatic rhythmic and harmonic effects for a choir and aria-like melodies.

A century after it was written, Mendelssohn spearheaded the 19th century revival of Bach, by then almost-forgotten, conducting an epoch-making performance of his Matthew Passion in 1829.

The programme includes Mendelssohn’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, again in English, which were written during one of the composer’s many extended visits to Britain.

To final work is Hubert Parry’s rousing 1880 setting of a John Milton poem, Blest Pair of Sirens.

Best known for Jerusalem, Parry was not a prolific composer but as a teacher influenced Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Holst, Bridge and Ireland who all studied with him.

Well-known organist Andrew Christer will accompany the choir and perform solo pieces by Mendelssohn and Parry. The concert at St Nicholas' Church, Guisborough, starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £10, £8 concessions, £1 under-19s, available from Guisborough Bookshop and Greensleeves Music (both in Chaloner Street, Guisborough), wegottickets.com or at the door.