Choir member Mike Aaronson is encouraging everyone who loves great singing and music to come to the Waverley Singers’ platinum jubilee opera gala concert at the Farnham Maltings on October 26 at 6pm.

It 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.

The show will recall many elements of the choir’s history as 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 programme will include Verdi’s Triumphal Scene from Aida and his Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, the Polovtsian Dances from Borodin’s Prince Igor, Purcell’s Dido’s Lament and Final Chorus from Dido and Aeneas, Puccini’s Che Gelida Manina from La Bohème, Verdi’s Mercé Dilette Amiche from the Sicilian Vespers and Chaminade’s Automne. A retiring collection will be held for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care.

Mike Aaronson said: “It’s been a big year for us, celebrating 70 years of singing in different venues around Farnham, and this concert is an opera gala - so lots of favourite songs and choruses from opera!”

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