BEAUTIFUL music comes to Salisbury next week as Salisbury Musical Society performs Bach's Christmas Oratorio, one of the most sublime pieces of choral music in the repertoire.

Written in 1734, the first three parts (all of which are being performed), tell the story of the birth of Christ, the appearance of the angel to the shepherds and the visit of the shepherds to Jesus in the stable.

Among the soloists for the performance on Saturday, December 8 in Salisbury Cathedral are two of the Cathedral lay clerks, counter-tenor Andrew Stewart and bass Rory Waters.

And returning to sing the soprano solos is former Cathedral chorister, Amy Carson, who has recently played the role of Pamina in Kenneth Branagh's film of Mozart's The Magic Flute.

Since leaving Trinity College, Cambridge, where she read music, Amy Carson has pursued a freelance career in singing and acting. Last year she sang in Benjamin Britten's Death in Venice for Richard Hickox at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and has also sung and recorded with The Gabrieli consort and The Sixteen.

  • ANOTHER musician returning to his home city is counter-tenor David Bates.

David who went to Bishop Wordsworth's School in the city, is bringing his chamber music ensemble, La Nuova Musica, to Salisbury's Medieval Hall on Sunday.

The group will perform a feast of Baroque gems specially written for Advent and Christmas.

Tickets are available by calling 020 7231 8544.