Sounds like this huge effort will pay off nicely

ACCLAIMED

British conductor David Lawrence will lead some of Australia’s best soloists and more than 150 Festival of Voices choristers in a performance of Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah in Hobart on Saturday.

Members of the Festival of Voices Choral Workshop Choir, the Festival of Voices Youth Choir and the Hobart Chamber Orchestra will be joined by leading soprano Greta Bradman, mezzo soprano Anna Dowsley and tenor Henry Choo. The title role will be performed by Sydney-based former Tasmanian bass baritone Christopher Richardson.

The oratorio depicts the life of the prophet Elijah as told in the Old Testament.

“Elijah is one of a handful of true believers, the rest of the Children of Israel have forsaken God,” Richardson said.

“The oratorio begins dramatically with Elijah pronouncing there will no more rain until he says so.

“There is fire and brimstone throughout, but also a sense of comfort, consolation, patience and love. Whether you listen to it from a faith or non-faith point of view, it is an amazing work.

“Mendelssohn was a big fan of Bach oratorios, and you can see that in the structure of the recitatives, arias and chorales.

“The music is beautiful, and some of the highlights for me will be Elijah’s arias, the trio Lift Thine Eyes, the quartet Cast Thy Burden, and the duets I will sing with Greta Bradman.”

The Elijah concert will be held at Hobart City Hall from 3.30pm on Saturday. Tickets are $45 for adults and $30 concession, available from www.festivalofvoices.com

— PENNY THOW