
This Christmas, Dartington Community Choir brings one of the best loved works in the choral repertoire to the Great Hall. Mendelssohn's fiery and impassioned oratorio Elijah is a work of dramatic extremes, from fire and brimstone to moments of sublimity and wonder.
Drawn from episodes in the Old Testament, the oratorio portrays the prophet Elijah struggling to rescue his people from the worship of pagan gods. Musically, it looks back towards Bach and Handel, whom Mendelssohn passionately admired, but also forward towards Romanticism.
The choir will sing in English, just as when Mendelssohn premiered Elijah at Birmingham Town Hall in 1846 to huge acclaim.Conducted by Simon Capet, with the Dartington Sinfonietta and soloists.