Due to COVID-19, like all performances in Performing Arts this concert has had its share of cancellations: first, for its May 9, 2020 at 3pm, for September 11, 2021 at 3pm, and then again, for December 16, 2021 at 7pm.
Mendelssohn's Elijah presented by the Sydney Philharmonia Festival Chorus
Date: Thursday 16 December 2021 at 7pm (cancelled due to COVID related-reasons)
Venue: Centennial Hall, Sydney Town Hall
In Elijah, Mendelssohn combines the majestic tradition of Handel and the worshipful spirit of Bach with his own Romantic style.
Elijah, Op. 70, MWV A 25, is an oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn depicting events in the life of the Prophet Elijah as told in the books 1
Kings and 2 Kings of the Old Testament. It premiered in 1846 at the Birmingham Festival. When Mendelssohn’s Elijah received its triumphant premiere at this festival there were more than a hundred musicians in the orchestra and several hundred singers in the choir. This is choral
music on a grand scale, and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs will do it justice with the imposing sound of the 400-voice Festival Chorus and the perfect Victorian-era ambience of the Sydney Town Hall.
Based on an Old Testament story (earthquake! fire! and the “still small voice”), Elijah combines the majestic tradition of Handel and the worshipful spirit of Bach with Mendelssohn’s own Romantic style. The result is a thrilling musical picture of “a grand and mighty prophet…borne on the wings of angels”.
But, as conductor Brett Weymark points out, Elijah was also a complex personality and in some ways a “very difficult man”. Mendelssohn
himself saw him as “energetic and zealous, but also stern, wrathful and gloomy.”
Sydney Philharmonia has no recorded video of this oratorio. Instead, below, I'm sharing this superb performance of Mendelssohn's Elijah, Op.70, MWV A25 / Part 1 - "Thanks be to God" excerpt performed by the Edinburgh Festival Chorus · Stephen Doughty · Orchestra of The Age of Enlightenment · Paul Daniel. Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group. Accessed March 25, 2020.
"Thanks be to God!"
Thanks be to God, He laveth the thirsty land.
The waters gather, they rush along!
They are lifting their voices!
The stormy billows are high; their fury is mighty.
But the Lord is above them, and Almighty!
PROGRAM
Deborah CHEETHAM & Matthew DOYLE Tarimi Nulay – Long time living here†
Felix MENDELSSOHN Elijah – An Oratorio
Text derived from the Lutheran Bible by Julius Schubring.
English version by William Bartholomew.
† Commissioned in our 100 Minutes of New Australian Music centenary project in 2020.
ARTISTS
Brett Weymark conductor
Teddy Tahu Rhodes bass (Elijah)
Penelope Mills soprano (the Widow, an Angel)
Deborah Humble mezzo (an Angel, the Queen)
Nicholas Jones tenor (Odadiah, Ahab)
SPC Festival Chorus
SPC Symphony Chorus
Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra
The concert will run for approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.
Tickets: Premium $109 | A $89 | B $69 | C $49. Concessions available
A booking fee of $8.50 per transaction applies.
Running time: 2 hours and 10 minutes including a 20 minute interval
Reviews:
Will be provided as available.
Related Links:
Elijah, Op.70 No. 1- Help Lord, Wilt Thou Quite Destroy Us? Uploaded by Dame Gwyneth Jones. Accessed March 25, 2020.
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Inspired Pen Web, Tel Asiado. March 25, 2020.
Mendelssohn's Oratorio Elijah, Op. 70. Inspired Pen Web, Tel Asiado. March 25, 2020.
Mendelssohn's Elijah, conducted by Ann Howard Jones. Boston University. Accessed March 25, 2020.
Video Credit:
Mendelssohn's Elijah: "Thanks Be To God" - YouTube, uploaded by ClassicalMusic. Accessed March 25, 2020.
Resource:
Mendelssohn's Elijah. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. (Available at the time of access, March 25, 2020.)
Bookings will open when Sydney Philharmonia Choirs receives health directives from NSW Government & Sydney Town Hall.
COVID-19 SAFETY | CURRENT | WILL BE UPDATED WITH RELEVANT ORDERS WHEN ADVISED
- Audiences will be required to QR code register upon entry to the Sydney Town Hall.
- As a condition of the venue, audiences will be required to wear masks throughout the performance. If this changes we will inform patrons as soon as possible.
- Hand sanitiser will be available.
- We will publish a digital program book on our website a week prior to the concert. A limited number of printed program books will be available for $5 each at the concert.
Details about Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' COVID safe plan.
(c) March 2020. Updated September 2021. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
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