Elijah - Mendelssohn | Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society

Mendelssohn much admired the baroque works of Bach and Handel, but Elijah clearly demonstrates his lyricism and use of orchestral and choral colour. First premiered in 1846 the Times critic of the time wrote; "Never was there a more complete triumph.........never a more thorough and speedy recognition of a great work of art".

It is a work full of drama the resurrection of a dead youth, a contest between Jehovah and Baal and Elijah's vision of God appearing and his ascension on a fiery chariot to heaven. The work ends with prophecies and praise.