Customer Reviews

Mendelssohn - Elijah / T. Allen · Rolfe Johnson · Y. Kenny · von Otter · Marriner

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Philips presents this competent reading of Mendelssohn's oratorio in modern sound. Unfortunatetly, as many labels now demonstrate with deplorable frequency, modern sound still requires thoughtful mixing and balancing. This set wants for both. Buyers of this set take heed: You do not need to see an audiologist. You might wish to tinker with the equalizer on your set.

For those who remain undeterred, Sir Thomas Allen is a fantastic Elijah, and eschews the uncompromising dramatic gruffness that many other fine singers bring to this role. Other soloists also perform well, though Anthony Rolfe-Johnson's tone is a bit uneven.

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields under Sir Neville Marriner plays warmly, giving an honest and altogether flattering account of this score. The choir is also outstanding, and succeeds both in its musical and dramatic support of the performance.

The enclosed booklet provides a relatively accessible discussion of the oratorio and the complete libretto (sung in English).

I confess to being a bit of an Elijah aficionado - having 5+ recordings of the work and having sung it many times myself gives me a position for comparison. That being said, I rank the Philips recording with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with Sir Thomas Allen singing Elijah at the top of the list! The recording is flawless, the varied soloists outstanding (although Janet Baker's solos on the older recording with Fischer-Diskau singing Elijah is still the standard for contraltos!) The choral ensemble has commendable intonation and diction - and for the most part, they use the "original" English version, not one with some of the archichisms extirpated! I found Sir Marriner's interpretation invigorating.
If a single recording is what you want for your choral library, this one is superb! My first introduction to Sir Thomas Allen was through his recording of Songs My Father Taught Me - his wonderful high range fits the Elijah role perfectly.

I had not heard of this group before but I was pleasantly suprised when I listened to the cd. The quality of the recording, and the performance of the piece were both exceptional. I've been wanting to get Mendelssohn's Elijah for a long time and I am very pleased with my purchase!

This is a beautiful rendition of Mendelssohn's classic. Even listened to again and again, it stirs the emotions and swells the heart.