Cabot Circus news

The new shopping centre's artist is residence, Neville Gabie, worked with David Ogden from the City of Bristol Choir on the production.

Gabie convinced workers - including steel fixers, foremen, security guards and canteen staff - to perform songs from their own countries.

The result includes music from almost 60 countries in 13 different languages.

The unique musical score was first performed in October 2007 by the City of Bristol Choir in the empty House of Fraser store.

But it is now due to be performed again at the Arnolfini in June and will form the basis of the new DVD.

Gabie said the transient building staff will leave a lasting impact on the city.

"The Cabot Circus Cantata is a musical celebration of a unique global community at the heart of Bristol.

"Whilst the community of building staff is transient, their positive impact on Bristol will have a lasting legacy, which I hope in some small way is reflected in the work that David and I have created."

David Ogden from the City of Bristol Choir said: "Many of the songs sung by the workers came from the heart.

"They are reminders of their homeland and were sung with great feeling and nostalgia.

"The songs from Eastern Europe were particularly powerful and it has been a tremendous experience for the singers from City of Bristol Choir to learn and perform them as well as meet the original singers and discover how the song is a result of their individual stories."