The Waverley Singers will continue to celebrate their platinum jubilee season with an opera gala in the Farnham Maltings on October 26 at 6pm.

This concert of opera choruses and arias will be conducted by Richard Pearce and will feature soprano Nina Bennet, tenor Robin Bailey and the choir’s regular accompanist Jakob Rothoff on piano.

It will recall many elements of the choir’s history. It is just over 70 years since the Waverley Singers’ first concert under that name, a fundraiser for St Andrew’s Church in Church House on September 24, 1955.

The choir was initially formed of former pupils of Farnham Girls’ Grammar School, under young conductor John Cotterill - a former pupil of the Farnham Boys’ Grammar School.

The name came from the address of one of the members, who lived at 19 Waverley Lane where the initial rehearsals took place.

By December 1958 the Herald was able to publish an article headed Farnham’s All-Girl Choir Is Looking For Men Now! and before long membership was well over 100.

Concerts took place regularly in the Farnham Maltings, starting in 1978 and sometimes as part of the Farnham Arts Festival.

In November 1994 - shortly before the Maltings’ silver jubilee, and by then under the baton of Malcolm Hicks - the choir performed Orff’s Carmina Burana in what the Herald reported as a Glorious Musical Salute to 25 Years of The Maltings!

The choir has also performed in three previous opera gala concerts. The first was at the Princes Hall in Aldershot in 1980, then at Farnham Maltings in 2015 and again in 2018. The 2015 concert marked the choir’s diamond jubilee and was graced by the presence of its founder secretary, Molly Goddard, née Medhurst.

The programme for this month’s concert will include many well-known favourites. Contrasting emotions will be felt in Verdi’s Triumphal Scene from Aida and his Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves.

The choir’s linguistic skills will be tested in the Polovtsian Dances from Borodin’s Prince Igor, sung in Russian, as well as choruses in Italian, French and Latin. English is represented by Purcell’s poignant Dido’s Lament and Final Chorus from Dido and Aeneas.

The soloists will have moments in the spotlight. Robin Bailey will tug at the heartstrings with Puccini’s Che Gelida Manina from La Bohème, while Nina Bennet will perform vocal gymnastics in Verdi’s dramatic Mercé Dilette Amiche from the Sicilian Vespers. Jakob Rothoff will play Chaminade’s haunting and dramatic seasonal piece Automne.

A spokesperson for the Waverley Singers said: “Over its 70-year history the choir has performed in nearly 300 concerts, many of them also supporting local and national charities.

“Since proper records began in 2015 the choir has helped raise nearly £24,000, and since the return to full-time singing post-pandemic in October 2021, £12,350.

“At this concert a retiring collection will be held for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care. The choir is hoping for a large and generous audience!”

For tickets - priced £18 or £20 in advance, £20 or £22 on the door (£5 students) - visit https://farnhammaltings.com/events/waverley-singers-opera-gala