DAME Emma Kirkby - voted one of the top 20 sopranos in the world - will join Skipton Building Society Camerata in a performance of Handel's Messiah at Christ Church, Skipton, on Saturday.

Dame Emma is an internationally renowned early music specialist and, in 2011, was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music.

Ben Crick, the Camerata's artistic director, said: “Dame Emma has been one of the leading exponents of early music for many years so the orchestra will be performing with a member of the world's musical royalty.

"In a year where we've already performed with Tasmin Little and Raphael Wallfisch, working with Emma on Handel's masterpiece will be a marvellous finale to our 10th anniversary year.”

Dame Emma will be joined by soloists Hannah Mason (mezzo soprano), Richard Rowe (tenor) and Mark Saberton (baritone) as well as the professional chamber choir, In Pace.

For many people, The Messiah is one of the musical highlights of the festive season being traditionally performed in the run up to Christmas.

Ben added: “The Messiah is a perennial favourite which many of our audience will know extremely well so it's vital that, as performers, we find something new to say. I think the key to making our performance distinctive lies in the way we interpret the narrative which tells the story of how a most extraordinary life was lived.”

The concert, supported by Skipton Town Partnership, is part of the Camerata's mission to bring world class classical musicians to perform in Skipton.

Town Partnership manager Mary Arber said: “We are delighted to be able to contribute to making what promises to be such an outstanding musical experience possible here in Skipton.

"It's amazing that we have a professional orchestra resident in the town – I don't know of any other town of our size that can boast that. And it's clear that over the last ten years the Camerata has made an increasingly significant cultural contribution to the lives of local people and visitors alike.”

The programme is also supported by Garfield Weston Foundation.

Tickets priced at £20 are available from skiptoncamerata.com or from the box office 01756 791656.