Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Performer: Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, Sarah Connolly, Allan Clayton, Gerald Finley, London Symphony Chorus
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Antonio Pappano
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: LSO Live
Catalogue: LSO0898
Release: 2024
Size: 3.97 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Elijah, Op. 70, MWV A 25
CD 01
Part 1
01. Introduction. As God the Lord of Israel liveth
02. Overture
03. No. 1, Chorus. Help, Lord! Wilt Thou quite destroy us?
04. No. 1, Recitative. The depths afford no water!
05. No. 2, Duet with Chorus. Lord, bow Thine ear to our pray’r!
06. No. 3, Recitative. Ye people, rend your hearts, and not your garments
07. No. 4, Aria. If with all your hearts ye truly seek Me
08. No. 5, Chorus. Yet doth the Lord see it not
09. No. 6, Recitative. Elijah! Get thee hence from here!
10. No. 7, Double Quartet. For He shall give His angels to watch over thee
11. No. 8, Recitative, Aria and Duet. What have I to do with thee
12. No. 9, Chorus. Blessed are the men who fear Him
13. No. 10, Recitative with Chorus. As God the Lord of Sabaoth liveth
14. No. 11, Chorus. Baal, we cry to thee
15. No. 12, Recitative and Chorus. Call him louder! For he is a God
16. No. 13, Recitative and Chorus. Call him louder! He heareth not
17. No. 14, Aria. Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel
18. No. 15, Quartet. Cast thy burden upon the Lord
19. No. 16, Recitative and Chorus. O Thou, who makest Thine angels spirits
20. No. 17, Aria. Is not His word like a fire
21. No. 18, Arioso. Woe, woe unto them who forsake Him!
22. No. 19, Recitative and Chorus. O man of God, help Thy people!
23. No. 20, Chorus. Thanks be to God
CD 02
Part 2
01. No. 21, Aria, Recitative and Aria. Hear ye, Israel! – Thus saith the Lord – I am He that comforteth
02. No. 22, Chorus. Be not afraid, saith God the Lord
03. No. 23, Recitative and Chorus. The Lord hath exalted thee from among the people
04. No. 24, Chorus. Woe to him! He shall perish
05. No. 25, Recitative. Man of God, now let my words be precious in thy sight!
06. No. 26, Aria. It is enough! O Lord, now take away my life
07. No. 27, Recitative. See, now he sleepeth beneath a juniper tree in the desert
08. No. 28, Trio. Lift thine eyes, O lift thine eyes to the mountains
09. No. 29, Chorus. He, watching over Israel, slumbers not, nor sleeps
10. No. 30, Recitative. Arise, Elijah
11. No. 31, Aria. O rest in the Lord, and wait for Him
12. No. 32, Chorus. He that shall endure to the end
13. No. 33, Recitative. Night falleth round me, O Lord!
14. No. 34, Chorus. Behold, God the Lord
15. No. 35, Recitative and Quartet with Chorus. Above Him stood the Seraphim – Holy, holy, holy is God the Lord
16. No. 36, Chorus and Recitative. Go, return upon thy way
17. No. 37, Arioso. For the mountains shall depart
18. No. 38, Chorus. Then did Elijah the prophet break forth like a fire
19. No. 39, Aria. Then shall the righteous shine
20. No. 40, Recitative. Behold, God hath sent Elijah the prophet
21. No. 41, Chorus. But the Lord hath awakened one this night
22. No. 41, Quartet. O come ev’ry one that thirsteth
23. No. 42, Final Chorus. And then shall your light break forth
“The performance was sublime in its own right, with musical heroes at every turn and leadership from the podium whose depth and acuity transcended normal expectations.” – Musical America.
LSO Live marks the beginning of their 25th anniversary year with the release of Mendelssohn’s Elijah, recorded live in concert with Sir Antonio Pappano earlier this year. From its first performance, Elijah received roof-raising applause.
It is one of the three greatest oratorios in musical history, bringing the sacred to life in glorious song. The life of the Biblical prophet is told in a series of dramatic episodes. We follow the fortunes of the steadfast, open-hearted Elijah, and encounter ministering angels and the vengeful queen Jezebel.
The London Symphony Chorus and four electrifying soloists give voice to the oratorio in English, as in its first premiere.
Gerald Finley breathes life into the role of Elijah, and the Orchestra ramps up the drama without losing sight of the stillness at the heart of the storm.
“I hope the audience are moved by the beauty of the music, enjoy exploring their imagination and take away the message that you are not alone.” – Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, soprano