Choir

LOVE and Longing is the title of Bradford festival Choral Society's summer concert.

Taking place on Saturday, June 9 at All Saints Parish Church Bingley, it combines 16th century love songs with the work of 21st century composers including a celebration of the suffragette movement in its centenary year. The choir will sing "songs of love, lust and despair" by composers such as Dowland and Thomas Campion and will be joined by Peyee Chen a soprano who has sung at the BBC Proms and the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.

Also on the menu will be cool, melodic music by Eriks Esenwalds and, continuing the theme marking 100 years of women's suffrage, the choir will sing the Pankhurst Anthem with words and music by Helen and Lucy Pankhurst. The work was commissioned by BBC Radio 3, with choirs encouraged to perform it.

Choir chairman Maggie Eisner said: “I hope the wide range of music will attract lots of people to this concert which celebrates a momentous moment in our history”

Musical director Tom Leech added: “This programme gives the choir the chance to show how sensitively they can sing. The wonderful surroundings of Bingley Parish Church will contribute to a memorable evening.”

* Visit bradfordfestivalchoralsociety.org.uk