OLDHAM Choral Society returns to the magnificent concert hall at the Royal Northern College of Music on Sunday, April 28 with a performance of the spectacular Verdi Requiem.

Verdi is chiefly known for his popular tuneful operas such as Rigoletto, La Traviata and Aida, but his one great “sacred” work - the “Requiem”, is arguably the greatest and most powerful choral work ever written.

With its grand choruses, (including the shattering “Dies irae”), its superb operatic solo items and its exciting orchestration, it’s no surprise the work is now established as a firm favourite with choir and audience alike.

As always, the choir have assembled a top quality international line-up of soloists to sing with them.

Linda Richardson, who has sung major operatic roles throughout the UK and further afield, reprises the soprano role that she previously sang for the choir some six years ago, and Kathleen Wilkinson also reprises the dramatic mezzo role. Like Linda she has sung extensively in Europe and the UK, (particularly at the Royal Opera House). She will be singing the angel in The Dream of Gerontius the following week at the Royal Festival Hall.

One of the UK’s finest tenors, David Butt Philip is also no stranger to the big stage. He recently gave a memorable performance of the title role in “The Damnation of Faust” for Mark Elder at the Halle. A highly acclaimed performance that was recorded and broadcast on Radio 3. He has most recently been singing for the Deutsche Opera in Berlin.

The young upcoming bass, Thomas D Hopkinson, who is singing all over the country and building a big reputation for himself, completes a line-up that would not look out of place in any of Europe’s great concert halls.