The Chester Philharmonic Orchestra, in conjunction with Chester Music Society Choir, conducted by Stephen Threlfall, will perform Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 at Chester Cathedral on Saturday, May 10 at 7.30pm.

Soloists will be Donna Lennard (soprano), Margaret McDonald (contralto), Stephen Newlove (tenor) and Louis Hurst (bass).

The orchestra will also perform Elgar’s Sea Pictures.

Margaret McDonald is no stranger to Chester audiences having performed in the cathedral on several occasions and with both the Chester Philharmonic and the Chester Music Society Choir.

Contralto Margaret McDonald
Contralto Margaret McDonald

Their acclaimed performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony two years ago is an event which local concert goers will remember.

Margaret is a renowned international singer and voice-coach who sings regularly in major venues and cathedrals in the UK and abroad.

Donna Lennard, a former student of the University of Chester, trained with the English National Opera and has performed in both the National Theatre and the Wigmore Hall.

Soprano Donna Lennard
Soprano Donna Lennard

She made her Royal Opera House debut last year in Julian Phillip’s new opera, How the Whale Became based on Ted Hughes’ Magical Stories.

Stephen Newlove is an experienced cathedral singer in the choirs of York Minster and Chester Cathedral.

Stephen has broadcast on radio and television and has featured on a number of acclaimed recordings. He has also sung with the Britten Singers and Canzonetta from Manchester.

Louis Hurst, a young RNCM bass baritone student, works as a lay clerk at St Paul’s Withington and is also a deputy at Manchester Cathedral.

Bass Louis Hurst
Bass Louis Hurst

Louis’ performances throughout the country are vast and varied from opera to solo recital work. His opera roles have been both eclectic and unusual from a Lion to a Greek King and even God.

Musical director Stephen Threlfall is a regular and well loved conductor of the orchestra. He is director of music at the prestigious Chetham’s School of Music Manchester and formerly sub – principal cellist with the BBC Philharmonic.

He too will be remembered for his direction of the choir and the orchestra in the performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony and also his direction of the orchestra in Vaughan Williams’ Sinphonia Antartica.

Tickets at £15 (reserved seats); £10; £8; school children £5 are available from the tourist information centre, Town Hall Square, 0845 241 7868 or www.chesterphilorchestra.co.uk.