A SELDOM-PERFORMED classic will be serving up a delightful pre-Christmas treat in Colchester this weekend.

And thanks to the highly influential Pimlott Foundation, they’ve got an up and coming star of the opera world to take part in their production of it. That’s Thomas Atkins, who has recently made his Royal Opera House debut as Faninal’s Major-Domo in Der Rosenkavlier, and is being tipped as an opera singer to watch out for. In the Pimlott Foundation’s performance of L’enfance du Christ, Thomas takes the role of Narrator. He will be joined on stage by Dominic Sedgwick as Joseph, Jerome Knox as Herod and local tenor Zachary Kleanthous as Centurion/Chorus. Also taking part in the concert will be Pimlott Foundation sponsored students Catrin Pryce-Jones and Richard Moore, who will sing the parts of Marie and Polydorus/Le Pere.

Hector Berlioz’s seldom performed work is perhaps best known for The Shepherds’ Farewell (L’adieu des bergers), which Berlioz composed in 1850 as an organ piece, and later turned into a choral movement. L’enfance du Christ tells the story of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt and of their protection by a family of Ishmaelites in the town of Sais. This hugely ambitious project follows-on from the Foundation’s production of Hansel and Gretal, which took place at the Mercury Theatre back in 2015. Berlioz’s oratorio, which will be performed in the original French, with a translation available, brings together more than 90 performers; a choir of 50, orchestra of 35 and eight professional soloists.

The fruition of months of hard work, choir rehearsals began in September when the newly formed Pimlott Foundation Choir met for the first time.

Under the tutelage of Christopher Borrett, an associate of the Pimlott Foundation and music director for St Mary Le Tower Ipswich, the 50 strong choir is made up of members of several local choral societies as well as the Pimlott Foundation Family Choir. L’enfance du Christ by Hector Berlioz takes place in St Peter’s Church, North Hill, Colchester, tomorrow, December 10, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15, £8 for children/students, available on-line at www.pimlottfoundation.org or by calling 01206 271291.