Elijah Update - 20 February 2019
Wow, four rehearsals in, and Oriana is up and running with Elijah!
With our amazing music team, led by the incomparable Fay Baker, the choir is wasting no time in coming to grips with the demands of this marvellous music. In the process, we’re advancing our acting skills! At one moment we’re playing the part of Jehovah’s people, and then we have to take on the role of the ‘prophets’ of Baal, then back again. It keeps us thinking!
One of the lovely things about this Oratorio is that Mendelssohn never allows the weight of the story to weigh down the music. Even in the most emotional, angst-ridden passages, there is still a lightness of touch on Mendelssohn’s part. He manages to maintain a balance between the baroque influences of his ‘heroes’, Handel and Bach, and his own recognisable style, which is never heavy.
If you’ve never heard, or seen, this wonderful musical creation, then don’t let the upcoming opportunity pass you by. It truly is a delight. Whether one is a believer or not, the power and drama of the story, combined with Mendelssohn’s beautiful music, promise you an uplifting, exciting, inspirational experience.
