Elias

FELIX MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY
Elias. An oratorio in the words of the Old Testament for solo voices, mixed choir, orchestra and organ, op. 70 - MWV A 25/1

Salzburg Cathedral Music
Salzburg Cathedral Choir & Salzburg Youth Choirs
János Czifra Direction

Elias means "Yahweh is my God." The prophet thus already bears his confession to the one God in his name. Mendelssohn's second oratorio tells the story of the biblical prophet Elijah and his militant efforts to convince the Israelites of this God. Mendelssohn's work, which was marked by deep faith and which he intensively studied over many years, was for him, as the Christian-baptized son of a Jewish family, also a contact with the legacy of his fathers. In the oratorio "Elias", Mendelssohn shows himself to be a master of musical timbres and moods; he focuses on large choirs - which were very popular in Germany and England at the time - and composes an almost operatic, dramatic work. In 1846, for the first time in music history, a special train had to bring the large group of singers from London to Birmingham for their world premiere. This took place under Mendelssohn's direction.

Organizer: Salzburg Cathedral Music
Single tickets: € 20 | € 30