The Somerset Singers will perform their Christmas Concert “Elijah” by Felix Mendelssohn at St Marys Church in Wedmore at 7:30pm on Saturday 9th December. They will be conducted by Guest Conductor Alison Blundell with the Lochrian Ensemble (Leader Catherine Black) and Soloists – Emma Brain-Gabbot (Soprano), Lucy Balderson (Soprano), Louise Mott (Contralto), Richard Rowntree (Tenor), and Edward Grint (Bass) who will sing the part of Elijah.
Mendelssohn wrote the bulk of his Oratorio Elijah between June 1845 and August 1846 when it was first performed in the Town Hall, Birmingham on 26th August 1846. Following its first performance, Mendelssohn completely revised it before it was next performed at Exeter Hall, London on 16th April 1847; it is this version that we recognise today and will be performed in this concert. It is full of stirring melodies and chorales interspersed with arias and recitatives containing many well known four part and eight part choral pieces starting with the plea “Help, Lord!”, the magnificent “Baal” choruses before Elijah sings his plea “Lord God of Abraham” and the first half ends with the mighty chorus “Thanks be to God”. The second half includes the choruses “Be not afraid”, “Woe to him”, the serene “He watching over Israel, slumbers not nor sleeps”, the mighty fire and earth quake sound of “Then did Elijah break forth from the fire” and the piece ends with the stunning finale “And then shall your light break forth”; all in all it is a feast of brilliant oratorio music that will be performed by some excellent soloists, accompanied by a first class orchestra with four top lead string players and supported by a well drilled amateur chorus.
Tickets priced £14-00 and £16-00 are now on sale from Wedmore Post Office and tel 01934 843727 or 01934 713271 – Unsold tickets will be available on the door - Further information may be found on line at www.somersetsingers.co.uk
