1846: A Birmingham Oratorio

1846, Birmingham. Nearly two thousand people pack into Birmingham Town Hall for the premiere of Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah. Conducted by the composer himself and performed by hundreds of local singers, it's one of the great musical events of Victorian Britain.

The success of Elijah owes much to the vision of businessman and philanthropist Joseph Moore, whose Birmingham Music Festival helped establish the city as one of Britain's leading musical centres. As the Industrial Revolution and the arrival of the railways continue to transform the country, new wealth, civic ambition and philanthropy fuel the growth of music festivals, concert halls and choral societies on an unprecedented scale.

From Handel's Messiah to Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, this is the story of how oratorio became Victorian Britain's most important musical form, bringing together performers and audiences from across society.

Gillian Moore is joined by a roster of distinguished historians for this major BBC Radio 3 series, charting a course through 1000 years of classical music history. For the next eight programmes, historian Kate Williams is in the chair, as together they explore the rich musical world of the 19th Century.

Producer: David Fay
Academic Consultant: Professor Laura Tunbridge, University of Oxford
Story Consultant: Kate Leys
Series Editor for BBC Audio: Emma Harding

Key Changes theme tune composed by Joseph Howard and performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Kerem Hasan.

Felix Mendelssohn: Elijah (Introduction)
Bryn Terfel (Elijah, baritone)
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Paul Daniel (conductor)

Felix Mendelssohn: Help, Lord! (Elijah)
Gabrieli Young Singers' Scheme
Wrocław Philharmonic Choir
Gabrieli
Paul McCreesh (conductor)

George Frideric Handel (arr. Mozart): Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah)
Huddersfield Choral Society
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Charles Mackerras (conductor)

George Frideric Handel (transcribed Dupré): Organ Concerto No. 16 in F major (March)
Thomas Trotter (organ of Birmingham Town Hall)

Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3, "Scottish" (2nd mvt)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Riley Court-Wood (conductor)

Hans Christian Lumbye: Copenhagen Steam Railway Galop
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Järvi (conductor)

Felix Mendelssohn: Be Not Afraid (Elijah)
Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Sir Neville Marriner (conductor)

Edward Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius (ending)
Karen Cargill (Angel, mezzo-soprano)
Huddersfield Choral Society
RNCM Chamber Choir
Orchestra of Opera North
Martyn Brabbins (conductor)

Dorothy Howell: Lamia
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Rumon Gamba (conductor)

To listen to this programme using most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Key Changes."