Prom 19: Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’ - 29 July 2023

**FFAdminMKS** · 26-07-23, 17:07

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra presents one of the most popular works in the British choral repertoire: Mendelssohn’s Elijah.

Full of earthquakes and hurricanes, fiery chariots, wicked queens and holy visions, this intensely dramatic oratorio is brought to life by the SCO’s exciting young Music Director Maxim Emelyanychev alongside soloists including Roderick Williams and Carolyn Sampson.

**gurnemanz** · 01-08-23, 20:34

Originally posted by Cockney Sparrow View Post

I'd be interested to know the size of the chorus. I've found a Y Tube from 8 years ago showing about 65 singers. Elijah susceptible to a chamber style performance? - well an interesting experiment but not, live, for me. On seeing the Proms Programme, my initial thought that this was one to leave the to the BBC engineers - over BBC Sounds I'm sure it will come over well.

I wouldn't make the journey to hear these forces in the vast space of the RAH, even if I could get a seat in one of the limited areas with a good acoustic for the listener. The soloists are fine artists* as, I am certain, are the orchestra and chorus and I will enjoy them more in a broadcast form, I think.

(*Andrew Staples was a replacement for the tenor soloist in 'The Kingdom' in Manchester in June and it was a very stylish performance, rewarding to hear).

Nil interest, it seems, in this fine performance. We did make the journey for what will probably be our only live Prom this year. It was well worth it. Travelling from Wiltshire we like to make a day of visits to the smoke. We went to the Greek and Persian Treasures show at the British museum in the afternoon and came over to South Ken for tea and cakes with some old friends from Germany. He is head of music in a school and she is a professional sop. They like to do a week's Proms every summer - this was their first such visit since Covid.

We had seats and when they went off to join the Arena queue we wandered over to the Park to eat our sandwiches. Coincidentally we shared a bench with a couple who turned out to be the parents of the evening's excellent mezzo soloist, Helen Charleston.

The choir of 22 each of sops and alt, 18 tenors and 21 bass sounded great and had no problem filling the RAH accoustic even when semi-chorus was called for. If anything, only Roderick Williams in the title role was a bit underpowered. Maxim Emelyanychev and his HIPPish orchestra (period horns and brass and an ophicleide instead of tuba + tap timpani) were in vibrant form. Another nice touch was Rowan Pierce as the Youth calling down to us from the organ gallery.

A very good day out. The concert was over by about ten past nine so we even squeezed in a swift one in the Queen's Arms before heading for the hills and with an empty M4 easily home by 1 am.

**Ein Heldenleben** · 01-08-23, 20:41

Originally posted by gurnemanz View Post

Nil interest, it seems, in this fine performance. We did make the journey for what will probably be our only live Prom this year. It was well worth it. Travelling from Wiltshire we like to make a day of visits to the smoke. We went to the Greek and Persian Treasures show at the British museum in the afternoon and came over to South Ken for tea and cakes with some old friends from Germany. He is head of music in a school and she is a professional sop. They like to do a week's Proms every summer - this was their first such visit since Covid.

We had seats and when they went off to join the Arena queue we wandered over to the Park to eat our sandwiches. Coincidentally we shared a bench with a couple who turned out to be the parents of the evening's excellent mezzo soloist, Helen Charleston.

The choir of 22 each of sops and alt, 18 tenors and 21 bass sounded great and had no problem filling the RAH accoustic even when semi-chorus was called for. If anything, only Roderick Williams in the title role was a bit underpowered. Maxim Emelyanychev and his HIPPish orchestra (period horns and brass and an ophicleide instead of tuba + tap timpani) were in vibrant form. Another nice touch was Rowan Pierce as the Youth calling down to us from the organ gallery.

A very good day out. The concert was over by about ten past nine so we even squeezed in a swift one in the Queen's Arms before heading for the hills and with an empty M4 easily home by 1 am.

Yes indeed an excellent performance.One of the highlights of the season so far.

**smittims** · 02-08-23, 06:50

I've always found 'Elijah' a bit of a slog. Maybe Sir Malcolm Sargent is to blame. Given the praise seen here I'll catch up with this one on BBC Sounds

**mopsus** · 02-08-23, 08:45

Originally posted by smittims View Post

I've always found 'Elijah' a bit of a slog. Maybe Sir Malcolm Sargent is to blame. Given the praise seen here I'll catch up with this one on BBC Sounds

Yes, I feel rather the same way about it. Unlike Messiah or The Creation, performances never have any cuts. I realise that it's harder to have them in such a narrative piece although there's at least one chorus at the end which could go without being missed much.

**jonfan** · 02-08-23, 14:05

Well I must have been listening to a different concert as I felt the dramatic element was missing especially, surprisingly, from Roderick Williams. The choir seemed too small for the big task Mendelssohn asks if it and there were many tuning issues.
Elijah is great sing for any chorister, a deserved member of the Big Three!
In defence of Sargent, I suggest a listen to the 1947 recording with the incomparable Harold Williams as Elijah.
My favourite recording is Sawallisch in 1968 where he adheres to the composer’s expensive requirements of 8 soloists!

**smittims** · 03-08-23, 06:52

I have the 1947 recording and I agree Harold Williams is excellent, as he was in Beecham's 1927 'Messiah'.

Prom 19: Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’ - 29 July 2023

Prom 19: Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’ - 29 July 2023

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