A 'pop-up symphony' - Beethoven at St Pancras

I was at St Pancras Station this afternoon for a remarkable symphonic event. The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and over a hundred amateur singers joined together for a one-off performance, on the Station's bustling concourse, of the final movement from Beethoven's 9th Symphony, the Ode to Joy. Simon Russell Beale, presenter of the BBC Four series Symphony, introduced the performance, Eurostar arrivals provided an ironic counterpoint to the glories of the 'European anthem' and an appreciative audience, many of whom were surprised to find such forces in their path on a Wednesday lunchtime in London, cheered and cheered and cheered.

And here, for your listening pleasure, is the whole performance:

Steve Bowbrick is Interactive Editor at BBC Radio 3

• The BBC's celebration of the Symphony begins with Genesis and Genius tomorrow night at 2100 on BBC Four. You'll also hear every note of every symphony mentioned in the series of four programmes on Radio 3 during the season - that's over sixty performances. All the details will be on the Symphony page at the Radio 3 web site.