Elijah, Op. 70 - Vocal Score

Elijah, Op. 70

Oratorio for Soprano solo (2), Alto solo (2), Tenor solo (2), Bass solo (2), Mixed choir: SSAATTBB and Orchestra.

Immediately after the completion of Paulus in 1836, Mendelssohn took the lead to the idea of composing another oratorio. Until the composition of "Elijah", which is about the history of the biblical prophet from the first book of Kings, however, a whole decade should pass. When the offer reached him to write a major work for the music festival in Birmingham, Mendelssohn began working on the oratorio. There, the "Elias" was premiered in 1846 with great success and has enjoyed unbroken popularity ever since.

Following the premiere, Mendelssohn subjected the oratorio to an overhaul, in which whole numbers were accounted for and new ones were added. In this version, which is still being played today, "Elijah" was first heard in London in 1847.

In time for the Mendelssohn Year 2009, Mendelssohn specialist Douglass Seaton, professor at Florida State University, presents a critical new edition of the Oratorio. The edition reflects the latest state of research and offers both the English and German texts of the work. A critical report completes the new edition.

Arranged by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Andreas Kohs. Text in German and English with commentary in English.