The Bermuda Philharmonic Society annual Christmas concert will include the local premi?re of English composer Vaughan Williams' masterpiece, ‘Hodie' (‘This Day').

A Christmas cantata, it was composed in 1953-4 and first performed at the Three Choirs Festival in Worcester Cathedral, England on September 8, 1954 conducted by Williams and dedicated to Herbert Howells.

The work is scored for full orchestra, choir and organ, with boys and three soloists: a soprano, tenor and baritone, and has been described as “one of the most serene compositions” by Williams. The sound is designed to move from earthbound to otherworldly. The texts are taken from the Bible, Milton and Thomas Hardy, among other sources, and reflect the Christmas theme.

Visiting international soloists participating in the Bermuda debut of ‘Hodie' on Sunday evening are Ailyn Perez (soprano), Derek Taylor (tenor) and Eric Dubin (baritone). Four boys from Saltus Grammar School are also featured. studied at Harper College, Eastman School of Music, and Centro Studi Italiani in Urbani, Italy. A regional finalist in the Metropolitan Opera's National Council auditions, and a finalist in the Palm Beach Vocal Competition, 2002, Mr. Dubin has sung Germont in ‘La Traviata' and Benoit in ‘La Boheme'. began her musical studies in Chicago, and was also tutored by Martina Arroyo and Virginia Zeani.

A 2002 West Palm Beach Opera winner, she holds a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance and a performer diploma from Indiana University, where she sang Esmerelda in ‘The Bartered Bride' and Despina in ‘Cosi Fan Tutte'. She has also performed the title role in ‘Lucia di Lammermoor' and Papagena in ‘The Magic Flute'. Ms Perez returns to the Palm Beach Opera this season to sing Souer Constance in ‘Les Dialogues des Carmelites'. attended the California Institute of the Arts, and won the Encouragement Award at the J. Parkinson competition. He studied at Portland Opera with Tito Capobianco, and will return to the company in 2004 to sing Normanno in ‘Lucia di Lammermoor'. Other operas in which he has performed include ‘Il Barbirere di Siviglia', ‘Lucrezia Borgia', ‘Falstaff', ‘The Magic Flute' and ‘Faust' (title role).

Recent engagements include a concert with Peter Nero and the Philadelphia Pops, and the role of the Informer in ‘Madame Mao' at the Santa Fe Opera.

With regard to ‘Hodie', the Philharmonic's musical director explained: “Williams had always wanted to write a large-scale Christmas work, and in some extraordinary way it seems to capture not only the religious spirit of that festival but also has its especially English overtones of associations with carols from King's College, Cambridge, and carols from the depths of the Hertfordshire countryside, although no folk tunes are used or quoted'.

“It is an ‘anthology' work, the whole linked by the narration of the Nativity from the Gospels by the boy choristers accompanied by organ. Williams' great love for the Bach passions is also reflected in this design,” he says.

In addition to ‘Hodie', the programme will also include audience participation in favourite Christmas carols and songs.

Sunday's concert is under the baton of Dr. Burgess, and will take place at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts beginning at 7.30 p.m.

Advance tickets ($25) are available from the Visitors' Service Bureau from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., including Saturday, December 13, and will also be sold at the door.