THE Farrant Singers return to Gabriel Fauré’s ever-popular Requiem after some years, for a concert on Saturday, March 9 at St Martin’s Church, Salisbury.

Taking the solo parts are baritone Richard Hooper from Salisbury Cathedral Choir and soprano Anita Monserrat, and the choir is accompanied by Timothy Hone at the organ.

Fourteen-year-old Anita was a chorister in the girls’ choir at Salisbury Cathedral, and was appointed Dean’s Chorister in her final year.

She is now a student at South Wilts School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s junior department, and this is her first public performance as a soloist.

Benjamin Britten’s centenary is celebrated during this concert with his Hymn to St Cecilia. Written to a text by WH Auden while Britten was living in America during the Second World War, the unpublished manuscript was confiscated by customs officials as he left the country in 1942, under the suspicion that the music was a secret code.

Thankfully, Britten was able to rewrite the piece while returning to England by sea.

The programme also includes two motets by Brahms’ and some familiar favourites from Bruckner - Ave Maria, Os Justi, and Christus Factus est. The concert begins at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £13, or £5for under 16s and students, and are available from Cross Keys Bookshop, online at farrantsingers.org, or at the door.