BOLTON'S Craig Smith returns to the town to take part in Bolton Catholic Musical and Choral Society's performance of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius.

The production is this Saturday at the Victoria Hall, Bolton, at 7.30pm, when soloist Craig (bass) will be joined by David Barrell (tenor) and Cari Serle (mezzo). Paul Stanley returns as conductor and musical director in charge of an 80-strong choir and orchestra.

This is the third BCMCS performance in which Craig has starred -- he took the part of Elijah in last year's choral concert and the role of Pirate King in the 2000 musical offering of Broadway Pirates of Penzance.

Edward Elgar, though recognised as one of Britain's greatest composers, was in his forties when he achieved his first real success with the Enigma Variations and The Dream of Gerontius. The work is a setting of a poem by Cardinal Newman and it tells the story of the journey of a man's soul after death. The work is in two parts, the first dealing with the death of Gerontius (David Barrell), and the priest (Craig Smith) discharging his soul into the next life. The second part depicts the soul's progression to his meeting with God, guided by an Angel (Cari Searle). This work of dramatic

intensity is regularly performed throughout Britain.

Tickets are £6 from the ticket secretary on 01204 302602.