Curtain Raiser

Mendelssohn's oratorio tells the story of the Old Testament prophet and was first performed at the Birmingham Festival. Introduced by Brian Kay.

Like a great story-teller Verdi draws the listener in with every colourful phrase of his dramatic Requiem.

Introduced by Erica Challis.

The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace was composed in the year 2000 by Welshman Karl Jenkins. Our introduction to this popular modern work is by Brian Kay.

Some of the most beautiful music in the choral repertoire is to be found in the pages of Fauré's score.

Introduced by Brian Kay.

Haydn's colourful oratorio uses texts from the book of Genesis and from Milton's Paradise Lost.

Introduced by Allan Badley.

Even critics, who don’t put Antonín Dvořák in the top echelon of composers, make an exception with this piece. Introduced by Murray Khouri.

Composed between 1819 and 1823, the Missa Solemnis is one of Beethoven's supreme achievements. Introduced by Brian Kay.

These much-loved folk-song arrangements are introduced by Matthew Crawford.

Life for an artist working in Soviet Russia was not easy. The continual fear of the censors and of the secret police coming to carry you off was very much a part of Shostakovich’s life. Introduced by Peter Watts.

Gustav Holst's seven movement work was composed during WW1 and needs a large orchestra plus chorus of women's voices. The composer's own favourite movement was Saturn - the Bringer of Old Age. Presented by Matthew Crawford.