Banbury Choral Society will be performing a shortened version of Elijah at St Mary’s Church, Banbury. Their conductor will be the choir’s Musical Director, Julian Harris. They will be accompanied by the highly accomplished organist, Charles Matthews. The soloists will be Eva Gheorghui, soprano; Lorna Perry, alto; Martin Quinn, tenor and Jack Holton, bass.

The first performance of Elijah took place in Birmingham Town Hall on 26th August 1846 and was received with rapturous applause leading to several encores. Mendelssohn had taken several years to bring this oratorio to a listening audience. However, it was to be his last major work before he died from failing health in November 1847.