As a champion of the great choral works of Johann Sebastian Bach (he re-introduced the long forgotten Matthäus Passion), Felix Mendelssohn continued the German Oratorio tradition with two magnificent works, Elias and Paulus. These two works, of vivid and highly dramatic substance, still enjoy great popularity, and are regularly performed by both professional and amateur choral societies.

In 1829 Mendelssohn organised the first performance of J S Bach’s St Matthew Passion since the composer’s death. The work, together with Handel’s Messiah, was to have an important influence on Mendelssohn’s own oratorios, and seven years later he completed the first of them, Paulus. Narrating several incidents from the life of St Paul, the oratorio firmly established the composer’s European reputation, and it is clear that many of the recitatives, not to mention the chorales, are stylistically indebted to Bach.

Fast-forward ten years to 1846 and we now encounter a more musically mature Mendelssohn, who draws on his experience writing Paulus, as well as his second symphony ‘Lobgesang’ with its choral finale, to produce Elias.

An immediate success, this work saw multiple encores at its premiere and has been a staple of the oratorio repertoire ever since. Similar to Paulus, the chorus serves as both a protagonist in the action and a narrator of events. This 4CD release of these two oratorios comprises a wonderful coupling, giving Paulus, which has not been widely recorded, the equal treatment it deserves. Providing hours of pleasurable listening, it exposes a sacred form not particularly widespread at the time, and reveals to us Mendelssohn the devout Christian.

Artists:
Elias Op.70
Balthasar Hens (treble) · Alexandra Coku (soprano) · Monica Groop (alto) · Claes H. Ahnsjö (tenor) · Peter Lika (baritone)
Figuralchor Frankfurt · Frankfurter Singakademie
Frankfurter Opernhaus- und Museumsorchester / Sylvain Cambreling

Paulus Op.36
Hellen Kwon (soprano) · Elzbieta Ardam (alto) · Hans-Peter Blochwitz (tenor) · Peter Lika (bass)
EuropaChorAkademie
SWR Sinfonieorchester / Joshard Daus