Andris Nelsons will finally say goodbye to Birmingham with two concerts at Symphony Hall.

We went back stage and took these pictures of the final rehearsals as the orchestra prepares for the historic concerts on June 17 and 18.

Nelsons joined the CBSO seven years ago in 2008 and will leave to focus on his role as music director with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which began last year.

His replacement at the CBSO has yet to be announced.

The two farewell concerts on June 17 and June 18 at Symphony Hall are now sold out.

His final performance with the CBSO will be on July 19 at the Proms.

Andris Nelsons has chosen to say farewell to Birmingham with Mahler’s Symphony no.3 – a huge rapturous hymn to nature.

A beautiful new choral work by Andris’ fellow Latvian Ēriks Ešenvalds – jointly commissioned, and supported by the Feeney Trust, with Andris’ new orchestra in Boston – will receive its UK premiere as audiences, orchestra, choruses and conductor unite to celebrate seven inspirational years.