Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’ to feature MC Singers, MC alums, former MC faculty members
MC Singers, the premier choral ensemble at Mississippi College, will join the Mississippi Chorus and members of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra to present Mendelssohn’s “Elijah,” one of the most powerful and beloved oratorios ever written, at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, in the main sanctuary at First Baptist Church of Jackson.
Beth Everett, MC assistant professor and director of choral activities, will conduct the chorus of more than 130 in the musical depiction of the dramatic life of the Old Testament prophet. Mendelssohn drew from First and Second Kings to create a timeless masterpiece of musical storytelling that follows Elijah from his challenge to the prophets of Baal through his ascension to heaven.
“Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’ is one of the best-known oratorios ever written and the pinnacle of the repertoire,” Everett said. “My mission was to see how many of our local arts organizations I could bring together to do something that none of us could do by ourselves.
“’Elijah’ is Mendelssohn’s opera without staging. Everything we sing is right out of Scripture. It has been fun to teach the students how Mendelssohn used Biblical texts to support the story of Elijah. It’s really a beautiful picture.”
The program will feature a talented group of professional soloists, many of whom have ties to Mississippi College. Richard Hobson, a Mississippi native and a professor at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, will sing the role of Elijah. Annalee Crawford, an MC alum, will sing the mezzo roles, including the character of Jezebel. Former faculty members in the MC Department of Music, Nicholas Perna (tenor) and Mandy Spivak (soprano), will also sing featured pieces.
To help prepare, the MC Singers performed a pair of selections from “Elijah” during the ensemble’s homecoming concert last fall. They will perform as part of the Chorus and have featured roles as well, Everett said.
“’Elijah’ has great educational origins,” Everett said. “It’s such an undertaking to prepare, but it’s something that students need to experience. There’s a lot of nostalgia tied to it because it is such a cornerstone of choral repertoire.”
Everett said MC students who perform in “Elijah” will remember their roles for a long time.
“Choir doesn’t just exist for those of us who are professionals. It is something that can benefit you throughout your entire life,” she said. “I love the multigenerational nature of the chorus. I want these kids to see that, no matter what career path they choose, they can sing at a higher level for a long time.
“They’ve been working hard outside of class and their section rehearsals, and I believe they see that the quality of this repertoire is worth it. I hope this will be something they will never forget.”
The timing of the performance – the weekend after Easter – couldn’t be better. Throughout the oratorio, the audience should notice parallels between the story of Elijah and the life of Jesus Christ.
“I want the audience to have a spiritual experience,” Everett said. “Everyone who walks in the door may not know the story of Elijah, but by the time they get to the end, I hope they see not just the story of a man and a prophet, but ultimately the story of Jesus.”
There is no charge for the concert, but donations are welcome.
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