Mendelssohn Elijah

Hertfordshire Chorus

An opportunity to hear one of the country’s best symphonic choirs perform one of Britain’s most popular choral works in the sublime surroundings of St Albans Cathedral.

Zoë Brookshaw soprano
Diana Moore mezzo-soprano
Ben Johnson tenor
James Platt bass
John-Ellis Wallace* boy treble
London Orchestra da Camera
David Temple conductor

Elijah was very much the Messiah of its day: a hugely popular work that absolutely cemented Mendelssohn’s position as one of the greatest composers of sacred music. Two thousand people attended the premiere performance of Elijah, which saw Mendelssohn himself take to the podium at Birmingham Town Hall. Elijah has an imaginative orchestration and the variety Mendelssohn brings to the recitatives ensure that they always maintain dramatic impetus. Many arias and choruses have a sheer beauty but above all, there is no mistaking the work’s considerable dramatic impact, epitomised by the vivid characterisation of Elijah himself.

Hertfordshire Chorus is conducted by David Temple MBE. It regularly performs with the BBC Concert Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and it has recently been broadcast on BBC Radio3 and BBC Radio2. Its latest critically acclaimed CD Ode to a Nightingale (Will Todd) and Codebreaker (James McCarthy) was recorded with the BBC Concert Orchestra for Signum Records.