A MUSICAL salute to one of Britain’s greatest military heroes was sounded at a Southampton church.

St Michael’s Church in Bugle Street was packed on Saturday to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Duke of Wellington’s victory at Waterloo

The concert, organised by the University of Southampton, featured a programme of well-known and obscure classical pieces with a Waterloo some of which also gave a nod to Napoleon and the French 

Among the less well-known offerings was Samuel Wellesley’s The Siege of Badajoz performed by pianist and broadcaster David Owen Norris.

Having lost the second battle of Badajoz, Wellington guaranteed an allied victory at the third battle in 1812 by outnumbering the French by almost five to one. The battle sonata written to celebrate this success was recently rediscovered in the British Library by David and Saturday was its first modern performance.

Hartley Sinfonia, conducted by Catherine Gosney, performed The Marriage of Figaro described by Napoleon as 'the Revolution in action', as the Beaumarchais play on which it was based, was a challenge to the ruling classes.

Beethoven’s Symphony No 3 Eroica was originally to be called "Buonaparte" but after discovering that Napoleon had declared himself emperor, the composer, a champion of democracy, changed the title.

Wellington's Victory, also By Beethoven, is rousing piece of battle music which features many of the then new nationalistic anthems of Europe, including Rule Britannia. It simulates the opposing armies and includes 188 canon shots, which were reproduced on Saturday by two giant bass drums hidden in different parts of the building.

A collection held at the concert raised £300 for the church.