MENDELSSOHN Elijah , Op . 70
Jennifer Barrington Soprano Kate Spence Mezzo-soprano
Martin Buckingham Tenor Martin Snell Bass
Auckland Choral Pipers Sinfonia
Uwe Grodd Conductor
Mendelssohn ’ s Elijah has been described as ‘ more of an opera than an oratorio ’. Intensely theatrical , it calls for a substantial orchestra , a large line-up of soloists , and a chorus that has both power and sensitivity .
The work was a smash hit at its first performance in 1846 before two thousand people in Birmingham ’ s Town Hall — a building whose interior is very similar in size and layout to the Auckland Town Hall .
Be prepared for the widest range of musical emotions , from the thrilling , ceremonial battle of “ Baal We Cry to Thee ” to the soft , three-part gem of “ Lift thine Eyes ”. Elijah is nothing less than the lifetime journey of a soul .
Saturday 2 September 7.30pm Auckland Town Hall Tickets are available at ticketmaster . co . nz or phone 09 970 9700 $ 42 – 95 , concessions available