A powerful piece of music from Baroque composer Handel will be Harrow Philamonic Choir's first concert of its 2008/09 season.The two-hour work, Judas Maccabeus, an oratorio in three acts, is being sung at 7.30pm at St George's Church in Pinner View, Harrow, on Saturday, November 22.

It tells the biblical story of the revolt of the ancient Hebrews against the Syrian occupiers under Antiochus Epiphanes and was written by German-born George Frideric Handel in 1746 against the backdrop of the Jacobite Risings which ahd three panels.

Harrow Philamonic Choir will be conducted by John Wyatt and will feature the following soloists: lead soprano Julie Gray, counter tenor David Gould, tenors Luke Price and Stephen George, and bass John Bernays.

Choir chairman John Ling says: "We haven't done it before and it was our conductor's choice.

"It's not frequently done but it has some really powerful music in it. See The Conquering Hero Comes is the most celebrated piece from the work.

"Judas Maccabeus is very varied in tone because it starts with expressions of deep sadness and misery and as the story develops it takes a more triumphant tone.

"It's been tiring but rewarding to rehease. It's well worth performing and reviving."

The choir, founded in the summer of 1959, rehearses each Monday evening at 7.45pm in the Victoria Hall, Sheepcote Road, Harrow. New members are welcome to go along.

 Tickets for Judas Maccabeus are £11 (£9 concs, under-16s free) and can be purchased on the door or via the HPC box office on 0208 904 4644. Visit www.harrowphil.co.uk .