Mendelssohn's 'Elijah'

There are advantages to small venues, but it’s refreshing to see the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in the grand surroundings of the Festival Theatre. Something about this venue, so rarely inhabited by the SCO, gives the ensemble a new dimension tonight in what has been a long-anticipated performance.

Joined by a sizeable SCO chorus and soloists, the orchestra make their passion and understanding of the music apparent from the opening. Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin is a joy to watch, making his intentions clear while holding a compelling focus throughout.

The work demonstrates an undeniable contrast of compositional elements: while many of the opening passages focus on melodic lines and their unexpected directions, the second half brings more of a feel of drama. Orchestral and choral passages display the larger harmonic structures, while other parts of the text demand a sense of quiet foreboding and tension, two moods which the orchestra translate fantastically well. The chorus project effortlessly over the orchestra, and during sporadic unaccompanied moments they convey a warmth and delicacy in their sound.

The soloists all engage with the text, giving a vivid portrayal throughout; soprano Lucy Crowe in particular demonstrates a congenial quality in her stage presence. Tenor Andrew Staples, who replaced Mark Padmore due to illness, displays fantastic diction and compliments the rich tones of bass Jonathan Lemalu. Individually just as much as in ensemble, they express Mendelssohn’s wide spectrum of moods to an enrapt audience.

The orchestral sounds suit the work well, most noticeably in the brass section, which blends amazingly with the chorus in occasional sparsely-orchestrated sections. The strings are, as always, wonderfully together throughout and create a deep and unique sound. Short but poignant wind solos balance this character well with effortless fluency and distinctive sounds. It is performances such as this one that maintain the genre of Oratorio, and open up such works to new audiences. This fantastic Mendelssohn celebration continues in style.