Baroque masters at St John's

Newbury Chamber Choir sing Carissimi and Caldara

Newbury Chamber Choir begin their season tomorrow (Saturday) with a concert by two masters of the Italian Baroque, at St John’s Church (7.30pm). Giacomo Carissimi was an important composer of oratorios, portraying dramatic stories on biblical themes without staged action. No story could be more dramatic than that of the prophet Jonah, dumped overboard to appease a storm and swallowed by a whale, in whose belly he spends three days and three nights as punishment for his disobedience. Antonio Caldara was a more cosmopolitan figure, famous for his operas, who finally settled in Vienna where he wrote the Missa Dolorosa, one of his last works. The Newbury Chamber Choir is joined by a team of fine soloists and a band playing period instruments. Tickets £15 (under 19s free) available online through www.newburychamberchoir.co.uk or in person at Newbury Visitor Information Centre 01635 30267.