Page:The history of Mendelssohn's oratorio 'Elijah'.djvu/100

 HISTORY OF MENDELSSOHN'S " ELIJAH."

The band and chorus for the Festival consisted of 396 performers. The band, mostly of the Philharmonic and the Opera orchestras, numbered 125 players — 93 strings and double wood-wind. The chorus, including a contingent of 62 from London, totalled 271, distributed thus : sopranos, 79 ; altos (all male voices, " bearded altos," as Mendelssohn called them), 60 ; tenors, 60 ; and basses, 72.

The principal vocalists in "Elijah" were Madame Caradori-Allan, Miss Maria B. Hawes, Mr. Charles Lockey, and Herr Staudigl ; the subordinate parts were filled by the Misses Williams (who sang the duet " Lift thine eyes," now the trio). Miss Bassano, Mr. J. W. Hobbs, Mr. Henry Phillips, and Mr. Machin. Dr. Gauntlett was sp2cially engaged to play the organ in the new oratorio. Mr. James Stimpson was the chorus - master and official organist of the Festival.

The first performance of " Elijah " took place in the Birmingham Town Hall, on Wednesday morning, August 26, 1846. Benedict thus describes the scene : " The noble Town Hall was crowded at an early liour of that forenoon with a brilliant and eagerly- expectant audience. It was an anxious and solemn moment. Every eye had long been directed towards the conductor's desk, when, at half-past eleven o'clock, a deafening shout from the band and chorus announced the approach of the great composer. The reception he met with from the assembled thousands on stepping into his place was absolutely overwhelming; ( 82 )

�� �