Elijah: Mendelssohn | St Albans Bach Choir

By 1846, when Elijah was first performed at the Birmingham Festival, Felix Mendelssohn was an established composer and conductor with a substantial reputation in England. Mendelssohn had been responsible for reviving interest in baroque oratorio, in particular the works of JS Bach and GF Handel, and their influence on the composition of his own oratorios, St Paul and Elijah, is considerable. Nevertheless, his lyricism and early romantic style pervades the work and marks it with his musical signature.

Mendelssohn composed Elijah to a German text, but had the libretto translated into English for its first performance. It was not performed in German until after Mendelssohn’s death. The story is taken from the Old Testament, the two Books of Kings, including the dramatic stories of the resurrection of a young man, the contest between Jehovah and Baal, Elijah’s exile to the desert after falling out with Queen Jezebel, his return and his ascension to heaven in a fiery chariot. The music reflects the drama of the action.

Elijah was a success from its first performance and has remained a popular part of the repertoire of choirs and choral societies in Great Britain ever since. Some critics have noted its conservative style. George Bernard Shaw referred to its “exquisite prettiness”, damning it with faint praise. But maybe Shaw’s usual partiality (he preferred Wagner) can be considered a compliment. Certainly it will be enjoyed both by the singers of St Albans Bach Choir and its audience.