Colin Davis conducts leading soloists, the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and the London Philharmonic Choir in Beethoven's monumental Missa Solemnis.

BBC PROMS 2011

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London

Presented by Andrew McGregor

In the last of this season's Choral Sundays, Sir Colin Davis tackles the largest and longest of Beethoven's non-stage works, the Missa Solemnis. This monumental work seems to skirt the boundaries of whether it is music made for the concert hall or the church. "My chief aim was to awaken and permanently instill religious feelings not only into the singers but also into the listeners," Beethoven himself wrote of the work.

The London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and London Philharmonic Choir lead the huge forces in what Beethoven considered to be his supreme achievement in music.

The quartet of soloists, made up of soprano Helena Juntunen, mezzo Sarah Connolly, tenor Paul Groves, and bass Matthew Rose, have demanding roles in this work, where the orchestra, chorus, and quartet each take on changing and challenging musical roles.

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis

Helena Juntunen (soprano)

Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano)

Paul Groves (tenor)

Matthew Rose (bass)

London Philharmonic Choir

London Symphony Chorus

London Symphony Orchestra

Sir Colin Davis (conductor)

This prom will be repeated on Tuesday 6 September at 2.30pm.