2017 Concert Series Elijah | Page 7

In Part II, the soprano’s opening “Hear ye, Israel” affirms that God supports
those who follow his commandments. The chorus reinforces this with “Be
not afraid.” Elijah has need of this assurance, for his routing of the priests
of Baal has raised the wrath of Jezebel, whose furious incitement of the
people drives Elijah out into the desert again, alone and dejected. In a
homage to a Bach aria from the St John Passion (“Es ist vollbracht”) Elijah
protests that he can’t go on. “It is enough,” he sings, as he yearns for
death. On Mount Horeb, angels speak encouragement to him in one of the
oratorio’s best-remembered moments “Lift thine eyes”. This is followed
by a glowing choral lullaby “He, watching over Israel, slumbers not, nor
sleeps.”
By way of further support, the contralto delivers one of the most beautiful
solo anthems in the oratorio “O rest in the Lord”. This leads to the still,
small voice that Elijah hears after tempest, fire and earthquake, and it is
this voice that compels him to return to Israel to continue to serve Yahweh
and guide the people. At the end, a blazing horse and chariot appears out
of a whirlwind, and Elijah is carried off into Heaven. As a final message
of hope and ecumenical peace, the tenor sings “Then shall the righteous
shine forth,” and following the benediction of a quartet of soloists, the
work moves through two triumphant choruses that anticipate the coming
of the Messiah, and lead to a closing Amen.
Copyright © Heath Lees 2017
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