Musical celebration of six decades of twinning links

The bond between Perth and its Bavarian twin city is to be celebrated with a musical union.

Ars Antiqua Choir from Aschaffenburg is to perform alongside Perth’s chamber choir, Chansons, at Perth Concert Hall on Sunday September 4 at 7.30pm.

Joined by wind and brass players from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, they will give a performance of Bruckner’s double choir mass with the programme also including music on a Shakespeare theme and A Time of Gifts by Scottish composer Tom Cunningham.

The concert will be conducted by Stefan Claas (Aschaffenburg) and Howard Duthie (Perth).

Ars Antiqua are bringing 47 singers accompanied by family and friends to visit Perth for seven days to celebrate the city’s twinning, as well as to further strengthen an existing bond between the two choirs based on a shared passion for choral music.

Chansons previously visited Aschaffenburg two years ago and sang at well-attended concerts together in Perth’s twin city.

The two choirs remain in regular contact.

Howard, conductor at Chansons, said: “We hope people in Perth will turn out for the concert and give Aschaffenburg’s Ars Antiqua Choir as warm a welcome as we received when we went over there.

“This concert will be a special occasion for not only friends of Chansons but the people of Perth as we celebrate Perth’s twinning with Aschaffenburg.”

During their time in Perth, the members of Ars Antiqua will also be doing some sightseeing and will be staying with local host families, mainly from Chansons.

The choirs will also be performing a concert in Kinross on Friday September 3. More information and tickets are available at www.chansons.co.uk.