Frankfurt an der Oder, Germany  - A German orchestra which is to perform at the Vatican Wednesday believes it is the first ever conducted by a woman to perform for a pope.

The Brandenburg State Orchestra of Frankfurt an der Oder is be headed by Inma Shara at the event, which marks International Human Rights Day.

Germany has two cities named Frankfurt. Shara and her 92 musicians come from the smaller Frankfurt, which is on the Polish border.

They are to play works by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Amilcare Ponchielli and Manuel de Falla.

An orchestra publicist in Frankfurt said 6,000 people would be in the papal audience room for the Rome concert, including Pope Benedict XVI and the Rome diplomatic corps. (dpa)