Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Conducted by D. Gatti
Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Op. 70, an oratorio for soloists, chorus and orchestra, is staged at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence with the esteemed maestro Daniele Gatti conducting. Performed by the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra and Chorus, this concert also features four vocal soloists, a soprano, a mezzo-soprano, a tenor and a baritone. The oratorio depicts episodes from the story of the biblical prophet Elijah, or Elias in German, as the piece is also known in its libretto's original language.
When Mendelssohn composed the work, he used a German-language libretto. However, because the oratorio was first performed in the United Kingdom, an English version of the text was used at the premiere, which took place on 26 August 1846 at Birmingham Town Hall. It has since gone on to be staged in both English and German many times in concert venues around the world. The various singing roles in Elijah require an almost operatic range, with the composition demanding a high degree of emotional expression. In some cases, the singers must perform more than one role in the telling of the life of the Old Testament prophet, which draws on Kings I and II for its inspiration, alongside excerpts from Exodus and Deuteronomy, among other Biblical books.
In addition to the arias that make up Mendelssohn’s Elijah, there are duets and recitative sections. Some of these also involve musical interactions with the choir, while other sections are for the chorus alone. The first movement ends with Thanks be to God, a choral arrangement based on a Psalm. Among the best-known excerpts and most frequently performed movements of the oratorio, which is sometimes staged as a separate piece on its own, is the chorus, He Watching over Israel. This comes in the second part and, again, is inspired by Psalms. Based on some of the structural foundations for oratorios that Bach and Handel established, Elijah broke new ground with its powerful operatic style.
Born in Italy, Daniele Gatti has served as the Director of the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino since 2026. Previously, Gatti, who is also a composer in his own right, was also Music Director of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. He is known for his work as a conductor of both symphonic works as well as operas. This performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah at Florence's premier music venue will, no doubt, offer telling insights into the compositional skill and emotive power inherent in this much-loved oratorio.