Introduced by Michael Berkeley.
As part of the celebrations to mark Birmingham's centenary, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos , perform Mendelssohn's Elijah in a live outside broadcast from the city's Town Hall. Soloists:
Margaret Marshall (soprano) Alfreda Hodgson (contralto) Ian Caley (tenor)
Benjamin Luxon (bass)
8.40pm* Interval
Michael Berkeley explains how Mendelssohn composed the work on a commission from the Birmingham Festival and conducted its first performance. He also examines the history of the Town Hall, home for over 150 years to the city's major concerts, and traces the evolution of the CBSO. Interval feature producer TONY RAYNER
Executive producer JM DUMIGHAN Director BARRIE GAVIN BBC Pebble Mill
(Presented in conduction with Birmingham City Council)
0 SIMULTANEOUS BROADCAST with Radio 3
* Approximate time