Name: Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” with Seiji Ozawa, Matthias Goerne and Annette Dasch
Start: 2009-05-17T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2009-05-17T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Berliner Philharmonie

Organization

Singer

Soprano

Annette Dasch

Gal James

Contralto

Nathalie Stutzmann

Tenor

Paul O'Neill

Anthony Dean Griffey

Baritone

Matthias Goerne

Bass

Viktor Rud

Chorus master

Simon Halsey

Conductor

Seiji Ozawa

Berliner Philharmoniker

Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” with Seiji Ozawa, Matthias Goerne and Annette Dasch

Berlin

Germany

Berliner Philharmonie

For many, the oratorio Elijah is the pinnacle of Mendelssohn’s oeuvre. Not only because of the rousing choruses and stunningly beautiful arias, but above all the dramatic power of the work, which is occasionally referred to as “Mendelssohn’s unwritten opera”. In this recording, Seiji Ozawa conducts a superb ensemble with Matthias Goerne in the title role, along with Annette Dasch, Anthony Dean and Nathalie Stutzmann.

Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” with Seiji Ozawa, Matthias Goerne and Annette Dasch: Concert Various

Public

Concert

Approved

Accordionist

Instrumentalist

Archlutenist

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Bassist

Bassoonist

Cellist

Clarinetist

Contrabassist

Cornettist

Flutist

Guitarist

Harper

Harpsichordist

Hornist

Lutenist

Mandoline Player

Musette de cour Player

Oboist

Organist

Percussionist

Pianist

Recorder Player

Saxophonist

Tenor Violinist

Timpani

Trombonist

Trumpeter

Tuba Player

Vibraphonist

Viola Pomposa Player

Viola da gamba

Viola d’amore Player

Violinist

Violino Piccolo Player

Violist

Actor

Broadcasting

Chefdirigent Musiktheater

Choir

Choreographer

Chorus Director

Composer

Costume designer

Dancer

Dramaturge

Executive producer

Extra

Hairstylist

Illustrator

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Lighting designer

Makeup artist

Orchestra

Orchestra Operations

Other

Photographer

Poet

Repetiteur

Set designer

Sound designer

Stage Manager

Stage director

Teacher

Translator

Video designer

Vocal coach

Wig & Makeup Designer

Writer

Writing and performance

Countertenor

Bass-baritone

Mezzo-soprano

Alto

Child vocalist

Continuo

Silent

Spoken

Almost no other Romantic composer contributed as much to the rediscovery of Bach’s and Handel’s music as Felix Mendelssohn. He also drew on the Baroque masters in his own works, which is particularly obvious in his great oratorios St Paul and Elijah. The latter, which was presented for the first time in English in Birmingham in 1846, conducted by the composer, unexpectedly became a legacy of sorts, since Mendelssohn died shortly afterwards and did not live to witness the first German performances of the work.

It is also in a spiritual sense a last word of the composer; the Old Testament subject matter allowed him to affirm both his Jewish roots and his adopted Christianity, since the arrangement of the text makes it clear that the prophecies of the coming Messiah refer to Jesus. The oratorio is one of Mendelssohn’s most fascinating works; a wealth of melodic inspirations and dramatic excitement are wonderfully combined. Contrary to the prevailing opinion of Mendelssohn’s works as primarily elegant and lovely music, the oratorio reveals the gruff, uncompromising and resigned character of the prophet.

To mark the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth, the Berliner Philharmoniker presented the work under the baton of Seiji Ozawa, who has been one of the orchestra’s regular guest conductors since Herbert von Karajan’s day and was named an honorary member of the Philharmoniker in April 2016. Ozawa is particularly fond of Elijah and conducted one of its rare performances by the Berliner Philharmoniker in 1984. At this concert, the ensemble of distinguished soloists was led by Matthias Goerne in the title role, who as a lieder singer is one of the most outstanding interpreters of German music of the Romantic period.

English

Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” with Seiji Ozawa, Matthias Goerne and Annette Dasch by Various, Sun 17 May 2009, From (2009/2009), Conductor Seiji Ozawa, Berliner Philharmonie, Berlin, Germany

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Programme, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues