St John Passion

THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA salutes the 250th anniversary of JS BACH'S death with a performance of ST JOHN PASSION tonight at Newcastle City Hall. Telling the story of the last days of JESUS CHRIST, this choral masterwork features music of intense drama, sophistication and humanity. The ACO'S vocal consort ACO VOICES follows on from their acclaimed debut in MESSIAH in December 1999. In the manner of Bach's own performances in Leipzig, soloists form the core of this choir, and including baroque specialists JANE EDWARDS and SARA MACLIVER. Young British tenor JAMES GILCHRIST and experienced bass-baritone DOUGLAS MCNICOL perform the roles of the Evangelist and Christ. Inquiries 4929-1977.

STATE FAIR: PERHAPS it was timing that drew Novocastrian Productions to stage its first major production a fortnight after the Newcastle Regional Show. Whatever the timing, the plot of this RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN musical is certain to be fresh in everybody's minds by the time the production opens at YOUNG PEOPLE'S THEATRE on Thursday, March 16. State Fair is the story of the Frake family from America's mid-west who bet their neighbours $5 that everyone in their family will enjoy themselves at the fair. State Fair plays Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays until April 1. =4961-5345.