Mendelssohn’s Elijah: Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment presents Mendelssohn’s magnificent story of faith, doubt and miracles.

The composer’s masterpiece has been one of Britain’s most popular choral works for more than 170 years.

Uplifting and dramatic, it has been a firm favourite of choral societies since it premiered at Birmingham Town Hall in 1846.

This Old Testament story sees Israel in the grip of a corrupt regime. God sends the Prophet Elijah to sort it out – something he achieves, spectacularly, through a series of miracles including resurrecting a boy and sacrificing a bull.

But it’s not all fire and brimstone. It’s also Mendelssohn’s own unique exploration of faith and doubt from an era of great change.

Mendelssohn was hugely inspired by the Baroque oratorios of Bach and Handel, whose influence can be heard throughout Elijah.

Japanese conductor Masaaki Suzuki returns to the OAE for his first performances with them since a spellbending tour of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in 2016.