From the Royal Albert Hall, London. Paul McCreesh conducts the Gabrieli Consort and Players, guest choirs and leading soloists in Part 1 of Mendelssohn's choral masterpiece Elijah.

BBC PROMS 2011

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London

Presented by Penny Gore

Mendelssohn's oratorio on the Biblical story of the prophet Elijah has been a favourite with English audiences for over 150 years. Conductor Paul McCreesh breathes new life into it in this performance with period instruments, a raft of enthusiastic choirs and a starry line-up of soloists.

Mendelssohn wrote Elijah for the 1846 Birmingham Festival and clearly set out to write a work in the tradition of his revered Baroque predecessors, Bach and Handel. Opinions have differed as to whether he succeeded, with some people finding Elijah full of Victorian sentimentality. Given Paul McCreesh's track record in earlier music, this is the perfect opportunity to hear the work afresh, free of accrued conventions.

Mendelssohn: Elijah - Part 1

Rosemary Joshua (soprano)

Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano)

Robert Murray (tenor)

Simon Keenlyside (baritone)

Taplow Youth Choir

Ulster Youth Chamber Choir

Chetham's Chamber Choir

North East Youth Chorale

Wroclaw Philharmonic Choir

Gabrieli Consort & Players

Paul McCreesh (conductor)

This Prom will be repeated on Tuesday 30 August at 2.30pm.