THE last time Mendelssohn’s choral blockbuster ‘Elijah’ came to Worcester Cathedral was sixteen years ago, but now the tortuously long wait for an encore is nearly over.

And the good news is, readers have a chance to win top price tickets plus a free, full colour concert programme per pair, in a fun competition being organised by the Worcester News and The Worcester Festival Choral Society.

Two pairs of tickets are up for grabs and the winners will surely have a musical evening out to savour.

A spokesman said: “One of the region’s most accomplished choirs, Worcester Festival Choral Society, will be performing Mendelssohn’s masterwork Elijah in the imposing surroundings of Worcester Cathedral on Saturday March 23.

“The 150-strong choir, accompanied by the Meridian Sinfonia symphony orchestra, is bringing the classical choral favourite to the City for the first time in sixteen years. They will be joined by acclaimed soloists – Swedish soprano Susanna Andersson, Australian mezzo-soprano Catherine Carby, tenor Ruairi Bowen and bass Edward Seymour. The concert, which will be sung in English, is conducted by the choral society’s music director Christopher Allsop.”

One of the Romantic era’s most popular composers, Felix Mendelssohn’s 1846 oratorio Elijah is known as one of the true choral ‘blockbusters’.

Felix Mendelssohn was born into a prominent Jewish family, but he was brought up without religion until the age of seven, when he was baptised as a Christian.

From an early age, Mendelssohn was recognised as a musical prodigy, and he has been compared to Mozart in this respect

Ben Cooper, Chairman of Worcester Festival Choral Society, confirmed: “If you’re looking for an exciting choral experience, this is it. Elijah is absolutely bursting with Old Testament fire and brimstone; from the stirring choruses and arias to its dramatic orchestration. And we are performing it at full, impressive scale. It all makes for a fantastic, London-quality concert experience right here in Worcester.”

For a chance to win a pair of tickets, answer the following question.

“In which year was Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’ first performed?”

Entries should be sent to the Worcester News no later than March 1 by emailing the answer to: competitions@worcesternews.co.uk

The phrase “Elijah” should be in the email’s heading.

Entries can also be by post, of course, and these should be sent to the Entertainments Editor, Gary Bills-Geddes, at The Worcester News, Hylton Road, Worcester, WR2 5JX.

The winners will be the first two names drawn from a hat, and our decision will be final.

Winners will be contacted and asked to pick up their tickets on the door from 7pm on concert night, March 23, bringing ID.

Concert tickets are available at: www.worcesterfestivalchoralsociety.org.uk and 01905 611427