HELENSBURGH Oratorio Choir is preparing for A Night at the Opera-torio.

The choir will be making the most of the special expertise of musical director Jonathon Swinard, who, at Scottish Opera, is musical director for Opera Highlights.

The programme for the event includes Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Mascagni’s Easter Hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana, Verdi’s Chorus of The Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco, and Leoncavallo’s Bell Chorus from Pagliacci.

Soloists on the evening will be Sioned Gwen Davies, mezzo-soprano, Christopher Turner, tenor, and David Stout, baritone.

Soloist Sioned is from Colwyn Bay, North Wales and will represent Wales in the Cardiff Singer of the World 2017 competition, having won the Welsh national competition last year.

Her performing highlights in concert include Henze’s Voices at the Barbican Hall, London, the Alto Solo in Stravinsky’s Les Noces in LSO St Lukes, London, Handel’s Messiah with the Lund Chamber Choir in Sweden and Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music, accompanied by Graham Johnson. Sioned also performed in a concert in the presence of His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, at Caerphilly Castle.

Born in Birmingham, Christopher read music at the University of Hull, furthering his studies with Barbara Robotham at the Royal Northern College of Music and at the National Opera Studio, where he was sponsored by the Scottish Endowment Trust and the Friends of Covent Garden.

He has received many prizes, including the Michael and Joyce Kennedy Prize for Singing Strauss, the Frederic Cox Prize, the Elizabeth Harwood Prize, and, most recently, a Countess of Munster Young Star Award and the Sybil Tutton Award from the Musicians Benevolent Fund. He was also a major scholar of the Sir Peter Moores Foundation.

David has rapidly established himself as one of the UK’s most versatile baritones. His repertoire ranges widely, encompassing early music with period instruments, Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Britten, the “bel canto” repertoire and contemporary and 20th century works.

The opera-torio performers will be accompanied by an orchestra led by Justine Watts.

The Night at the Opera-torio will take place at Helensburgh Parish Church, Colquhoun Square on Sunday, April 23, starting at 7.30pm.

Tickets for the event are priced at £12 for adults and £6 for students and children and can be purchased from the Scandinavian Shop, the church office or at the door on the night.

For more details on the Helensburgh Oratorio Choir and their events visit helensburghoratorio.co.uk.