A FORMER young Blackburn singer is returning to the town’s Cathedral next month with her medieval harp for a free lunchtime recital.

Leah Stuttard will be joined by Swedish mezzo soprano Agnethe Christensen for the concert.

They will perform ‘The Secret Life: Lutheran Chorales’ at 1pm on Wednesday, November 22.

Ms Stuttard, 42, is a former member of Blackburn Cathedral Young People’s Choir turned professional medieval harpist.

Now based in Senlis, north of Paris, she also sang with the town’s Renaissance Singers before studying music at university.

Ms Stuttard said: “Martin Luther’s chorale melodies are familiar to many people.

“They are still sung in churches and in concert halls. We want you to get to know them better.

“We’ll perform plainsong and polyphony by composers like Guillaume Dufay, Luther’s own versions, and gorgeous Scandinavian folk hymns, based on Luther’s tunes.

“You can join inwith us. You’ll see the humble hymn in a different light afterwards.”

The concert is part of a UK tour which takes in London, Leicester, Huddersfield, Colchester, Lincoln, York and Cardiff.

The recital is free, but donations to cover expenses are requested.