Newbury Choral Society to sing Mendelssohn's St Paul

Newbury Choral Society will be performing Mendelssohn’s St Paul (Paulus in the original German) at 7.30 on Saturday, March 18, at St Nicolas Church.

Although not as well known as some of his other works, this should appeal to lovers of both the Classical and Romantic styles, showing pleasing features of both.

The choir will be accompanied by professional soloists and orchestra, all under the direction of Joe Tobin, the society’s recently appointed director of music.

Mendelssohn, born in Hamburg in 1809 into a wealthy and famous family, was extravagantly gifted and accomplished. Like Mozart he had achieved much by his mid-teens, becoming a brilliant pianist as well as producing symphonies, concertos, sonatas and vocal works, in which he preserved the Classical ideals of harmony and form. It has been remarked that his music radiates elegance and balance.

At 20, he conducted a historic performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, rekindling an interest in and appreciation of Bach’s music and earning himself an international reputation. At 26, he became conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and founded the Leipzig Conservatory a few years later. He performed in Germany and England, where he proved to be a great favourite of Queen Victoria (who sang his songs while Mendelssohn accompanied her).

His oratorio Paulus had won him fame, admiration and popularity at home. He drew on the fugal technique of Bach, inspired as well by the choral works of Bach, Haydn and Handel. Raised in the Protestant faith despite Jewish ancestry, Mendelssohn had a thorough knowledge of the Bible. When he began work on the oratorio in 1834, he based it on the book of Acts, beginning with St Stephen’s martyrdom and Saul’s persecution of the Christians and progressing to Paul’s conversion and ministry. The libretto was provided by his long-time friend Pastor Julius Schubring, with whom he had collaborated before.

Mendelssohn used the traditional forms of aria, recitative and chorus, as well as chorales in homage to Bach, bringing to them his natural melodic gifts coupled with the highest levels of musical craftsmanship. Paulus was enthusiastically received on its first performance in Düsseldorf in 1836 and similarly acclaimed on its first performance in England.

Tickets £15 (£5 under-16s) available at www.newburychoral.org.uk or through members of the choir.