Messiah, English National Opera, BBC Two

A power-packed performance of Handel's masterpiece, Messiah, comes from English National Opera at the Coliseum. Filmed for a television audience, the one-hour performance will be brought to life by ENO's creative teams, guests soloists, chorus and orchestra, making full use of the Coliseum's architecture.

Saxophonist and broadcaster YolanDa Brown and broadcaster Petroc Trelawny introduce Messiah on BBC Two on Saturday 3 April, at a time to be announced.

Messiah follows in the footsteps of ENO’s recent partnership with the BBC, which broadcast a very moving performance of Mozart’s Requiem.

Laurence Cummings directs ENO and soloists including soprano Nadine Benjamin in Messiah

Listen out for the rousing ‘Hallelujah’ chorus and uplifting arias as Handel tells the story of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. Composed in 1741, and given its first performance in Dublin at Easter 1742, the piece speaks anew of hope and new beginnings as audience emerges from a winter so hard in so many ways.

In an interesting new move, ENO will return to the custom of performances that took place in Handel’s lifetime. Instead of the usual four soloists, this production introduces the equivalent of characters, voiced by eight outstanding soloists. Countertenor Iestyn Davies and mezzo-soprano Christine Rice are joined by rising stars in ENO's Harewood artists, including sopranos Nadine Benjamin and Nardus Williams, tenors Anthony Gregory and John Findon, baritone Benson Wilson and bass William Thomas.

Says ENO artistic director Annilese Miskimmon said: 'Handel’s beautiful music transcends the specifics of its biblical text in embracing the possibility of hope and rebirth after the darkest of times.’ Culture Whisper says ... you will love this.

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Handel's Messiah is sung in English. English National Opera's full season returns in the autumn with a programme to be announced that includes The Valkyrie