Page:The history of Mendelssohn's oratorio 'Elijah'.djvu/155

 THE REVISED ORATORIO.

��Hall, the genius-brain that had conceived that noble work was for ever calmed in death.

(Mendelssohn died at Leipzig, November 4, 1847, in his thirty-ninth year.)

A memorable performance of " Elijah " was given by Jenny Lind in Exeter Hall, December 15, 1S4S, in aid of the Mendelssohn Scholarship Fund. This performance, which Mr. Otto Goldschmidt happily terms the " corner-stone of the Fund," was a triumphant success.

No more fitting conclusion to this ** History" could be found than the words of Jenny Lind, who, in writing to the composer's widow on her irreparable loss, said : " His ' Elijah ' is sublime! In my opinion he never wrote anything finer ; and assuredly could not have written anything loftier in the future ! With what solemnity we all stood there (to perform it) ; and with what love do the people still speak of him! "

To this tribute of reverence from one great artist to the memory of another, I venture to subscribe a fervent "Amen."

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