The Academy of Ancient Music, recognised as the finest period instrument orchestra in the world, is performing in Bury St Edmunds next month.

It specialises in early music and comes to the town on Monday, May 21, to perform Bach’s B Minor Mass alongside the choir, Tenebrae, at St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

Tenebrae and the musicians join forces under the baton of Nigel Short to perform the piece described by the 19th century editor Hans Georg Nayeli as the “greatest musical work of all times and all people.”

It’s an exciting time for the Academy of Ancient Music as they have just appointed a new leader ... violist Bojan Cicic? and 2018 also marks its 45th anniversary.

He said: “It’s an orchestra that I respect, firstly as a student in Croatia and secondly as a member of the orchestra for about five or six years now. We have formed friendships that last a lilfetime.”

And Richard Eggar, the music director, added: “I am completely thrilled and overjoyed that he will become our new leader.”