the Lancaster Chorale - Past Great performances

Nos. 1-2: Prologue - Baritone soloist Dr. Jeffrey Martin intones the curse, followed by the chilling OVERTURE. The choir opens with the frantic "Help, Lord!"; finally our two female soloists, Gwen Bowers and  Abi Martin intone the plea "Lord, bow thine ear to our prayer."

Nos. 3-4: Tenor soloist, Brenten Megee performs the recitative and aria, "Ye people, rend your hearts" and "If with all your heart ye truly seek me."

No. 5: Chorus - "Yet doth the Lord see it not"

In this chorus the people are angry and freightened. Their anxiety turns to hope as they realize that God's mercies on thousands fall."

Narration - Nos. 8-9: Soprano, Abi Martin laments the dying of her son to Elijah. Elijah responds and prays for her son to live again. The boy revives. The mother is instructed to "repay" by loving the Lord with all her heart. The chorus comments by singing "Blessed are the men who fear Him" which concludes the section.

No. 10: Elijah confronts the wicked king and queen. A duel of warring deities is proposed. Will it be Baal or Israel's God, Jahweh, who will prevail? "The God who by fire will answer" will be the one true God. Baritone Jeffrey Martin starts this long dramatic sequence.

Nos. 11-13: Chorus - "Baal, we cry to thee." Elijah - "Call him louder." The wail of the people for their false god to come down in fire is met by Elijah's taunting.  The Baal prophets cry louder and more frantically. Their pleas are met . . .with silence.

Nos. 14-15: Elijah prays that God would send fire. A beautiful hymn  follows, and reminds the listener to "cast thy burdens upon the Lord, He will sustain thee."

Nos. 16-17: Chorus: "The fire descends from heaven." The searing heat continues with the stunning aria from the prophet, "Is not His word like a fire."

Nos. 19A-20: Elijah and the Youth (treble soloist Isaac Warner) are looking for evidence of drought ending rain. At last, the rain comes, and the chorus exults in God's provision; "the waters gather, they rush along." End of Act 1

Nos. 21-22: Abi Martin opens Act 2, "Hear ye, Israel!" The message from God is to trust, to not be afraid. The chorus echos the theme; "Be not afraid."

No. 26 -27: "It is Enough." Although Elijah has seen miraculous wonders from God, still he is in anguish over the stubborness of the people. He feels he has failed. He wishes to die. This is one of the most pathos filled, and most beautiful arias in all oratorio literature, actually a duet with the principal cello, His pain and grief are keenly felt here.

No. 28: a trio of angels: "Lift Thine Eyes." Soloists Abigail Martin and Gewn Bowers are joined by chorus member Brigietta Rendon in an off stage and acapella rendition of the heavenly message that God is always near.

No. 29:  Chorus, "He watching over Israel slumbers not, nor sleeps." The most famous of choruses from this work. The message is of encouragement and hope; God will never fail you.

No. 31:  Alto aria "O rest in the Lord." Soloist Gwendolyn Bowers passionately communicates the need  to wait patiently for the Lord.

No. 32: Chorus "He that shall endure to the end shall be saved."

Nos. 33-34: Elijah and the Angel (Soprano), followed by the chorus "Behold, God the Lord passed by." He was heard in the "still small voice" and in that voice "onward came the Lord."

No. 42, Quartet of soloists: "O come, everyone that thirsteth." In this quartet each soloist is given her or his chance to shine and yet a more beautiful texture of 4-part ensemble conveys the message that all are welcome to come to the Source, the fountain of Life.

No. 43:  Chorus, "And then shall your light shine" Finale. "Lord our Creator, how excellent Thy name is in all the nations. Thou fillest heaven with Thy glory. Amen." This is Mendelssohn's exuberant doxology, a glorious bookend to the two-hour plus drama that is ELIJAH.