Page:The history of Mendelssohn's oratorio 'Elijah'.djvu/111

 THE FIRST PERFORMANCE.

��inspired, and might well be forgiven for something of self-reverence, though he looked all humility ; and when he came down from his chair when it was all over, he seemed all unstrung as if he could no more. The interest that invests that man is quite inexpres- sible, and indeed I never felt, as I have done throughout this week's Festival, the greatness of a truly great composer ; what are all the performers compared with him ! " *

In a letter (*' Leipzig, September 28, 1846 "), written in English, to his Birmingham host, Mr. Joseph Moore, Mendelssohn said : —

as well as I might have wished, and, while I think over the events of this last journey, I cannot help addressing these few lines to you in order to express once more the most sincere and most heartfelt thanks for your very kind reception, and for the friendship you have again shown to me during my stay at your house. Indeed, the first performance of my ' Elijah ' exceeded all the wishes which a composer may feel at such an important moment, and the evident good-will of all the artists in the orchestra, as well as the kindness with which the audience received the work, will be as long as I live a source of grateful recollection. And yet it seems
 * I have now returned home, found all my family

surviving members of Mrs. Bache's family, for their kind permission to use these interesting extracts.
 * I am much indebted to Mr. Russell Martineau, and the

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