Fernhurst Choral Society will perform George Frideric Handel’s Messiah at St Mary’s Church in Petworth tomorrow at 7.30pm.

This performance will be the first of the society’s 2021-22 concert season following a Covid-enforced absence of nearly two years.

Nigel Roberts, who chairs the society, said: “We believe Messiah is the perfect choice to mark the society’s triumphant return to public performance. Full of famous tunes, it represents the high point of the 18th-century collision of sacred music and opera.”

Messiah, composed with a scriptural text from the King James Bible and psalms from the Book of Common Prayer, was first performed in Dublin in 1742.

After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in western music.

Musical director Tim Ravalde said: “Come and hear the choir – and our four fabulous young soloists Natasha Page, George Haynes, Phil Durrant and Jack Comerford, together with King’s College organ scholar Richard Gowers – deliver what promises to be a thoroughly enjoyable, uplifting and joyous performance.”

Soprano Natasha Page is a graduate of the Royal College of Music International Opera Studio. Contralto George Haynes is a Lay Vicar in the choir of Chichester Cathedral, having spent six years as a Lay Clerk at Peterborough Cathedral. He undertakes vocal studies with Robert Rice, having studied previously with the countertenor Lestyn Davies.

Tenor Phil Durrant studied with Tim Evans-Jones at the Royal College of Music, where he was supported by a Leverhulme Arts Scholarship. Jack Comerford completed his Master of Music degree at the Royal College of Music, graduating with a double first in vocal performance and academic research. Richard Gowers is a pianist, organist and conductor.

Tickets, priced £15 (free for NUS cardholders and accompanied under-18s), are available from www.fernhurstchoralsociety.org.uk, the Fernhurst Hub Community Charity, the ticket manager on 01730 815708, or at the door. Face masks must be worn.