AIREDALE Symphony Orchestra and Leeds Philharmonic Chorus will be joining forces to perform a gala concert on Saturday, February 29 at 7.30pm in Leeds Town Hall.

This programme celebrates the very best of American choral and orchestral music and features the concert version of Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess.

Conductor John Anderson said: “As far as I am aware this wonderful opera has never been performed in Leeds and the 40 minute arrangement by Robert Russell Bennett features the very best music, including ‘Summertime’ and ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’. This is an extremely rare opportunity to hear this music live.”

The concert opens with the original overture to the musical Showboat followed by ‘Ol’ Man River’, sung by baritone soloist Neil Balfour.

The orchestra will also be playing a suite from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘South Pacific’ and Gershwin’s wonderful score for ‘An American in Paris’, featuring four taxi horns and three saxophones!

Soprano soloist, Sarah Power, will be singing Marietta’s Lied from the opera ‘The Dead City’ by Erich Korngold, one of the most hauntingly beautiful arias in the repertoire. Short choral works by Bernstein, Copland, Barber and Randall Thompson complete this exciting programme.

Tickets at £13, £17 & £23 (concessions available) from City Centre Box Office on 0113 376 0318, boxoffice@leeds.gov.uk, orchestra members, choir members and at the door.