Angélique Kidjo and Corinne Bailey Rae on Bradford show

Five-time Grammy Award-winner Angélique Kidjo will bring her African Symphony to the historic venue.

It marks the UK Premiere with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and special guest Corinne Bailey Rae.

The concert is part of BBC Proms and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Staz Nair played detective Harry Virdee in the show, Virdee, for the BBC (Image: Rob Youngson/BBC)

Now in its seventh week, the BBC Proms 2025 season features 86 concerts.

From gritty drama Virdee to live prayers during Eid-al-Fitr, around 22.6 million people across the UK have watched BBC content celebrating Bradford on TV and iPlayer. 

It has reached 35 per cent of the UK population on BBC TV and iPlayer between October 2024 and August 2025.

Tim Davie, BBC director-general, said: “It’s a huge honour to be part of a legacy that we know will attract many more millions to this fantastic city.”

Audiences can expect iconic tracks rooted in African heritage - from the likes of Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti, Hugh Masekela and Youssou N’Dour - at St George's Hall.

Speaking to the T&A, Angélique said: “Every concert is a new beginning because you don’t know what to expect from the public. Anything can happen. Until the show is over I can’t predict what can happen.

“I am at the service of the music.”

Bill Bailey at the Loading Bay for Extraordinary Portraits (Image: Neil Sherwood) The concert will be Angélique’s first introduction to Bradford, the current UK City of Culture.

“It’s important for everybody that you get to understand what it means to be a British citizen,” said Angélique.

“It’s not just London. 

“It’s a very good thing that we allow the youth in those places to realise the city matters therefore they matter.”

She added: “Youth is the moment where you can absorb so much.

Gardeners World at Wibsey Community Garden (Image: BBC) “You’ve got to be curious.

“Culture is one of the things that has real ramifications - it makes you think different.”

She added: “I grew up in a family where my mum and dad, my brothers and sisters, we were exposed to music around the world and it was at an early age that I started asking questions. My nickname was ‘When, why, how?’ because I liked to understand why music was so different yet common.

“The answer was music is a universal language."

BBC Proms is coming to St George's Hall (Image: Jim DeBarker/T&A Camera Club) Corinne Bailey Rae, who was born in Leeds, said: “I’m thrilled to be making my BBC Proms debut in Bradford with Angélique Kidjo.

“The songs I will be singing mean a lot to me, and to be able to share them with a live audience in Bradford, so close to home, will be a magical experience.”

The show will take place at 3pm on Sunday, September 7. People can buy tickets by visiting www.bradford2025.co.uk/event/bbc-proms/

For anyone who can’t be there in person, the Prom will be broadcast live on Radio 3 and made available on BBC Sounds.