CONCERT REVIEW

JSO Mendelssohn: Elijah Jerusalem Theater October 10

In Mendelssohn’s Elijah, performed by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the composer’s Jewish sensibilities are more obvious than in most of his other works.

Unlike his Christian oratorio Saint Paul, which is more formal, solemn, objective and, above all, unemotional, in Elijah the composer focuses not only on the prophet’s moral message, but identifies emotionally with his personal tragedy and disappointment as the misunderstood and rejected prophet of righteous rage. This work includes some of the most profoundly moving passages of Mendelssohn’s whole oeuvre.

Among the soloists, Yael Levita’s clear soprano overcame its initial sharpness in her later, radiant aria “Hear ye, Israel.” Anat Czarny displayed a warm, friendly mezzo-soprano. Eitan Drori’s lyric tenor was soft and appealing. Baritone Colin Schahat’s profoundly moving aria “It is enough” was one of the performance’s highlights.

The lead hero was the choir –three choirs, in fact: the Tel Aviv Philharmonic Choir, the Shahar Choir and the Ma’ayan Choir. Their coordination was perfect, their nuances of dynamics were abundant, their forceful contrasts were impressive and their terzetto “Lift thine eyes” was fascinating. Their enthusiasm, at the end, made one actually visualize “the fiery chariot with fiery horses as Elijah went by a whirlwind to heaven.”

Conductor Eli Jaffe accomplished a sensitive as well as forcefully impressive rendition of this demanding work.