The closing of the Radcliffe Infirmary after more than 200 years' service is the end of an era for Oxford. Last Saturday's Gala Concert at the Town Hall was a wonderful tribute to a much-loved city landmark and a celebration of its many achievements. Appropriately, the proceeds were earmarked for local medical charities - the Clive Project (which supports families of patients with early-onset dementia), the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Botley Alzheimer's Home and the Oxfordshire Association for the Blind.

Central to the programme was the world premiere of The Serpent God, a cantata for choir, soloists and orchestra by local composer Roger Teichmann, specially commissioned for the occasion by the Headington Singers. The piece is a setting of text from Ovid's Metamorphoses, which tells of the Romans' quest to find the Greek god of healing, Aesculapius, when their city becomes ravaged by the plague. On their way to Epidaurus, the Romans are told in a dream to expect the apparition of a serpent. A golden serpent of the temple does indeed come to life; an embodiment of the god himself. The serpent returns with the Romans "as health-giver to the city". To this day, a serpent entwined around a staff is still a symbol of healing.

The combined forces of the Headington Singers, the Oxford Collutorium and the Radcliffe Singers gave a compelling and stylish performance, clearly relishing the dramatic content and the composer's melodic and rhythmic inventiveness. There were strong contributions, too, from soprano Harriet Fraser (a former doctor at the Radcliffe Infirmary) and baritone Jordan Bell (pictured above).

Elsewhere, the celebratory mood was given full rein with Shostakovich's joyful and vivacious Festival Overture and Walton's Crown Imperial Coronation March, both delivered with appropriate sparkle and panache. Britten's sublime Hymn to St Cecilia was a lovely contrast, while two of Handel's Coronation Anthems - Zadok the Priest and The King Shall Rejoice - brought this historic occasion to a glorious and uplifting conclusion.