SYMPATHETIC Hexham Orpheus Choir intends to use its next concert to do justice to the man nicknamed Mr Grumpy.

There are countless anecdotes about the rudeness of 19th century German composer Johannes Brahms.

“If there is anyone here I have failed to offend, I apologise,” he is supposed to have said as he abruptly left one dinner party.

But to be fair, said Orpheus member Keith Mallinson, he had a lot to be grumpy about.

His later years were overshadowed by cancer and, a bachelor till the end of his days, hewas fundamentally a lonely man.

“At first glance, the two examples of his work we are performing at our next concert are hardly the most cheerful,” said Keith.

“A German Requiem, perhaps his greatest single work, is a 70 minute long meditation on death and his Song of Destiny is about the transience of human existence.

“But anyone listening to these two masterpieces quickly realises that there’s much more to it than that – they are among the most uplifting works any choir can perform.”

Conducted by Mark Edwards, the choir will be fielding soprano Carole King and baritone Alex Otterburn as the soloists for the evening and between them they aim to put on a concert that is a fitting send-off for one of their very own.

Rehearsal pianist Margaret Huntington is retiring after many years of sterling service.

The tickets for the concert, which will take place on the evening of Saturday, December 5 at the Winter Gardens, behind Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham, are available from Cogito Books in St Mary’s Chare.