Mendelssohn: Elijah / Hickox, White, London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

$21.99
Label
Chandos
Release Date
August 26, 2014
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      MENDELSSOHN, FELIX
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra
    • PERFORMER
      White, Plowright, Finnie, Davies, Hickox
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      August 26, 2014
    • UPC
      095115244821
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      CHAN 241-48
    • LABEL
      Chandos
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Choral - Sacred
    Works ⌄

    1. Part I: Introduction: Recitative: As God the Lord of Israel liveth (Elijah)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    2. Part I: Overture

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    3. Part I: Help, Lord! Wilt Thou quite destroy us? (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    4. Part I: Duet with Chorus: Lord! Bow Thine ear to our prayer! (Soprano, Contralto, Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Rosalind Plowright, Linda Finnie, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    5. Part I: Recitative: Ye people, rend you hearts (Obadiah)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Arthur Davies, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    6. Part I: Aria: If with all your hearts ye truly seek Me (Obadiah)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Arthur Davies, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    7. Part I: Yet doth the Lord see it not (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    8. Part I: Recitative: Elijah! Get thee hence (An Angel)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Linda Finnie, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    9. Part I: For He shall give His angels charge over thee (Chorus) - Recitative: Now Cherith's brook is dried up (An Angel)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Linda Finnie, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    10. Part I: Recitative, Aria and Duet: What have I to do with thee, O man of God? (The Widow, Elijah)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Rosalind Plowright, Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    11. Part I: Blessed are the men who fear Him (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    12. Part I: Recitative: As God the Lord of Sabaoth liveth (Elijah, Ahab, Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Willard White, Arthur Davies, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    13. Part I: Baal, we cry to thee (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    14. Part I: Recitative: Call him louder, for he is a god! (Elijah, Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    15. Part I: Recitative: Call him louder! he heareth not (Elijah, Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    16. Part I: Recitative and Aria: Draw near, all ye people (Elijah)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    17. Part I: Chorale: Cast the burden upon the Lord (Angels)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    18. Part I: Recitative: O Thou, who makest Thine angels spirits (Elijah, Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    19. Part I: Aria: Is not His word like a fire (Elijah)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    20. Part I: Arioso: Woe unto them who forsake him! (Contralto)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Linda Finnie, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    21. Part I: Recitative: O man of God, help Thy people! (Obadiah, Elijah, The Youth, Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Arthur Davies, Willard White, Jeremy Budd, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    22. Part I: Thanks be to God! (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    23. Part II: Aria: Hear ye, Israel (Soprano)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Rosalind Plowright, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    24. Part II: Be not afraid, saith God the Lord (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    25. Part II: Recitative: The Lord hath exalted thee from among the people (Elijah, The Queen, Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Willard White, Linda Finnie, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    26. Part II: Woe to him, he shall perish (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    27. Part II: Recitative: Man of God, now let my words be precious in thy sight (Obadiah, Elijah)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Arthur Davies, Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    28. Part II: Aria: It is enough (Elijah)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    29. Part II: Recitative: See, now he sleepeth beneath a juniper tree (Tenor)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Arthur Davies, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    30. Part II: Trio: Lift thine eyes to the mountains (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    31. Part II: He, watching over Israel (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    32. Part II: Recitative: Arise, Elijah, for thou hast a long journey before thee (The Angel, Elijah)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Linda Finnie, Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    33. Part II: Aria: O rest in the Lord (The Angel)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Linda Finnie, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    34. Part II: He that shall endure to the end, shall be saved (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    35. Part II: Recitative: Night falleth round me, O Lord (Elijah)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    36. Part II: Behold! God the Lord passed by! (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    37. Part II: Recitative and Chorus: Above him stood the Seraphim (Contralto, Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Linda Finnie, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    38. Part II: Go, return upon thy way! (Chorus) - Recitative: I go on my way in the strength of the Lord (Elijah)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    39. Part II: Arioso: For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed (Elijah)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Willard White, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    40. Part II: Then did Elijah the prophet break forth like a fire (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    41. Part II: Aria: Then shall the righteous shine forth (Tenor)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Arthur Davies, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    42. Part II: Recitative: Behold, God hath sent Elijah the prophet (Soprano)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Rosalind Plowright, Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    43. Part II: But the Lord from the north hath raised one (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    44. Part II: Quartet: O come everyone that thirsteth

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox

    45. Part II: And then shall your light break forth (Chorus)

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Roderick Elms

      Conductor: Richard Hickox


'Never was there a more complete triumph', wrote The Times after the premiere of Elijah by Mendelssohn. The performance, conducted by the composer at the 1846 Birmingham Music Festival, marked the beginning of the life of Elijah as one of the best-loved choral works in the repertoire, a status it still holds.

A grand oratorio in two parts, Elijah is very much composed in the spirit of Mendelssohn's baroque predecessors, combining the dramatic sweep of Handel with episodes of sublime meditation such as are found in Bach. It tells the story of the stern Old Testament prophet Elijah who preached against the idol worship of the Israelite people. Mendelssohn adapted the Biblical texts to produce intensely dramatic scenes depicting, for example, the resurrection of a dead youth, a contest of the gods, and Elijah's ascension into heaven on a fiery chariot.

This recording, made in April 1989, presents an all-star cast with Willard White in the title role and Rosalind Plowright, Linda Finnie, Arthur Davies, and Jeremy Budd singing the various supporting parts. Conducting the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus is the late Richard Hickox, a musician who built an immense reputation for his masterful performances of choral music during his career. This release is a part of the ongoing Richard Hickox Legacy series.