The same artists performed the Tippett work in two sold-out performances in the orchestra's 2004-05 season at the London Coliseum. The benefit performances will take place at St. Paul's Cathedral, due to scheduling conflicts with the London Coliseum.

All of the performers and company members have donated their services for the event, and the event itself is free. All donations will go to UNICEF Asian Tsunami Children's Emergency Appeal.

Tippett wrote A Child of Our Time after he heard about a desperate young Polish Jew shooting a Nazi official in 1938. Although the work draws on traditional oratorios, Tippett used African-American spirituals to deepen the emotional effect.