Elijah
Mendelssohn's Elijah stands as one of the Romantic era's supreme choral works, a sprawling biblical oratorio of genuine emotional and architectural grandeur. This 1999 EMI recording features a stellar cast: soprano Gwyneth Jones, contralto Janet Baker, tenor Nicolai Gedda, and baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau all at their peak, supported by the New Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus under Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. The soloists bring operatic prestige and vocal beauty to their roles, while the chorus handles the complex fugal writing with precision. What emerges is a performance honoring both the work's massive formal architecture and its deeply felt spiritual content. The orchestration—lavish yet always clear—unfolds across two discs with sweep and refinement. A great recording of a great work.
Item Details+
| Genre | Classical |
| Style | Romantic Oratorio |
| Notes | Mint (NM or M-) Good Plus (VG+) |
| Media | Near Mint (NM or M-) |
| Sleeve | Very Good Plus (VG+) |
| Label | EMI Classics |
| Year | 1999 |
| Country | Europe |
| Format | 2xCD |
Tracklist+
. Elijah (Elias), Oratorio, Op. 70
. Part One
1-1. Introduction: As God The Lord Of Israel Liveth 1:15
1-2. Overture 3:34
1-3. No.1: Help, Lord! Wilt Thou Quite Destroy Us? 4:21
1-4. No.2: Lord! Bow Thine Ear To Our Prayer! 2:08
1-5. No.3: Ye People, Rend Your Hearts 0:54
1-6. No.4: If With All Your Hearts 2:35
1-7. No.5: Yet Doth The Lord See It Not 4:13
1-8. No.6: Elijah! Get Thee Hence 0:52
1-9. No.7: For He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee 2:08
1-10. Recitative: Now Cherith's Brook Is Dried Up 1:12
1-11. No.8: What Have I To Do With Thee? 6:37
1-12. No.9: Blessed Are The Men Who Fear Him 3:49
1-13. No.10: As God The Lord Of Sabaoth Liveth 4:27
1-14. No.11: Baal, We Cry To Thee; Hear And Answer Us! 3:23
1-15. No.12: Call Him Louder, For He Is A God! 1:08
1-16. No.13: Call Him Louder! He Heareth Not! 2:11
1-17. No.14: Lord God Of Abraham, Isaac And Israel! 3:39
1-18. No.15: Cast Thy Burden Upon The Lord 2:22
1-19. No.16: O Thou, Who Makest Thine Angels Spirits 3:10
1-20. No.17: Is Not His Word Like A Fire? 2:04
1-21. No.18: Woe Unto Them Who Forsake Him! 3:12
1-22. No.19: O Man Of God, Help Thy People! 6:38
1-23. No.20: Thanks Be To God! 3:42
. Part Two
2-1. No.21: Hear Ye, Israel; Hear What The Lord Speaketh 6:03
2-2. No.22: Be Not Afraid, Saith God The Lord 4:12
2-3. No.23: The Lord Hath Exalted Thee 4:03
2-4. No.24: Woe To Him, He Shall Perish 1:32
2-5. No.25: Man Of God, Now Let My Words Be Precious 4:03
2-6. No.26: It Is Enough; O Lord Now Take My Life 1:32
2-7. No.27: See, Now He Sleepeth 2:39
2-8. No.28: Lift Thine Eyes To The Mountains 6:15
2-9. No.29: He, Watching Over Israel, Slumbers Not 0:40
2-10. No.30: Arise, Elijah, For Thou Hast A Long Journey 1:48
2-11. No.31: O Rest In The Lord 3:53
2-12. No.32: He That Shall Endure To The End, Shall Be Saved 2:13
2-13. No.33: Night Falleth Round Me, O Lord! 3:37
2-14. No.34: Behold! God The Lord Passed By! 2:50
2-15. No.35: Above Him Stood The Seraphim 3:52
2-16. No.36: Go, Return Upon They Way 1:35
2-17. No.37: For The Mountains Shall Depart 2:44
2-18. No.38: Then Did Elijah The Prophet Break Forth 2:15
2-19. No.39: Then Shall The Righteous Shine Forth 2:40
2-20. No.40: Behold, God Hath Sent Elijah 1:18
2-21. No.41: But The Lord, From The North Hath Raised One 3:31
2-22. No.41a: O Come Everyone That Thirsteth 3:21
2-23. No.42: And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth 3:15
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