Could Gareth Malone's latest test be too hard to Handel?

Composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, Messiah is one of the best-known choral works in western music.

- Gareth Malone is tackling Handel's Messiah with eight novice singers. By Richard Jones reports

The English-language oratorio has deep personal significance for many people, including Gareth Malone, as it was one of the first pieces of classical music he saw performed as a child.

But although he has loved and sung Messiah since he was a boy, the choirmaster has never conducted the work - until now.

This two-part programme follows Gareth as he takes on an enormous challenge, not only to put on a concert showcasing Handel's Messiah, but to also coach eight people with no experience of classical choral music to sing it alongside the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and its chorus, as well as soprano Jessica Robinson, alto Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, baritone Roderick Williams and tenor James Way.