THE Sitwell Singers are holding another of their popular Come and Sing events on Saturday, February 25, at Strutt's Community Centre, Derby Road, Belper.

This time they've been inviting singers to join them to rehearse and perform Mozart's Requiem, with conductor Malcolm Goldring and pianist Shaun Brown.

The fog of romantic legend that once surrounded Mozart's Requiem has now been thoroughly discredited.

Yes, Mozart was visited by a stranger in the summer of 1791 who called to commission a setting of the Requiem from him.

But the story of him being spooked by his visitor's strange appearance into thinking he was writing the Requiem for himself has long since been shown to be a forgery.

The visitor was, in fact, acting on behalf of an eccentric Viennese aristocrat, and though his name was not revealed, Mozart probably knew who he was.

The man in question wanted Mozart to write the work in memory of his wife who had died earlier that year.

Mozart died in December, probably from a form of rheumatic fever – there was an epidemic going around Vienna at the time (no, he wasn't poisoned by Salieri – that's another story that has been completely demolished).

He left the Requiem unfinished, and with financial ruin staring her in the face his widow, Constanze, was understandably anxious to have it completed.

Mozart's assistant Franz Xaver Süssmayr eventually took on the job, though his work has been criticised over the years for its lack of technical polish.

A number of other editions have been published in the last 40 years or so, but it's Süssmayr's version that is most familiar today, and it's the one the Sitwells will be using for their Come and Sing event.

If you were hoping to take part, the workshop part of the day is now fully booked, and there's a waiting-list. However, there is room for an audience at the afternoon performance – no need to book, just turn up.

WHAT: Come and Sing Mozart Requiem

WHERE: Strutt's Community Centre, Derby Rd, Belper

WHEN: Saturday, February 25, performance 4pm

TICKETS: £3 on the door.

BOX OFFICE: tickets@ sitwellsingers.org.uk;or call 01332 662519.