STIRRING classical music renditions are coming to Cerne Abbas, Winfrith and West Stafford.

Hear one of the finest achievements by the French 20th century composer Olivier Messiaen at St Mary’s Church in Cerne Abbas tomorrow evening.

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s contemporary music group Kokoro will be appearing at the church with a programme that features an all-English selection of short works inspired by the English Baroque master Henry Purcell, including Fantastia, a new composition by Kokoro’s composer-in-residence Hywel Davies.

The second half of the programme is given over to Olivier Messiaen’s extraordinary and visionary Quartet for the End of Time, written and first performed while Messiaen was prisoner of war during the Second World War.

This work was written for the instruments available in the camp, and of its first performance Messiaen wrote ‘Never was I listened to with such rapt attention and comprehension’.

Tickets are £9 from 01300 341332. This concert will also be repeated at St Christopher’s Church in Winfrith on Saturday, March 7. Call 01305 852117 for tickets.

On Friday, February 13, the BSO Resonate Strings travel to West Stafford Village Hall for a ‘Spring Serenade’.

These five musicians, one from each string section of the orchestra, will perform a concert displaying the diversity of music written for string ensembles.

Other highlights are Copland’s Hoe Down, Warlock’s Capriol Suite, and the first movement of Holst’s St Paul’s Suite.

Tickets are £10 from Sue Chamberlain on 01305 261984.