by Benedicte Dansie
Saturday evening, I attended The Salt Lake Choral Artists presentation of Elijah – An Oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn at the Libby Gardner Hall in Salt lake City, Utah. The venue was a full, both in regards to the musicians and the audience. Extra chairs were brought in to allow everyone who wanted to listen the ability to enjoy the evening. Everyone was extremely friendly, chatting about the program and who they were there to support.
The opening strains of the tuning notes cut through the excited hum of the audience, and everything instantly fell hushed. The full sound of the choir singing the Oratorio at a forte, accompanied by the orchestra was otherworldly. The Mendelssohn’s Elijah is a lovely classical piece telling the story of the old Testament prophet Elijah through the soulful singing of the Lord’s angels, Elijah, and many others. Technically, it’s an extremely challenging piece for both the choir and orchestra. Even with the technical difficulty of the piece, it was executed amazingly. The choir and orchestra performed with an enthusiasm and precision that was captivating to watch. The choir had incredible diction, especially for such a large group of singers, and the audience could understand every word that was being sung. The orchestra had lovely dynamics, ebbing and flowing with the emotions and plot of Elijah’s story. The Artistic Director and Conductor Brady R. Allred was able to draw such spectacular emotion from the choir, making this a brilliant interpretation of the piece. He led the group with a skill that allowed everyone to easily follow him, creating quick cut offs and artful swells from both choir and orchestra.
The piece featured several incredible soloists who performed at various interludes throughout the piece. Seth Keeton (Elijah), Carol Ann Allred (Soprano), Valerie Hart Nelson (Contralto), and Tyler Nelson (Tenor) took the lead in telling the main narrative of the story. Their voices, while each unique, offered a wonderful blend that allowed them all to work together in weaving the tale. Keeton sung the role of Elijah with a warmth and boldness that fit the part perfectly. He was very open with the audience and the other musicians, smiling and offering encouragement. Benjamin Bird (The Youth), Michelle Pederson (Soprano), and Demaree Clayson Brown (Mezzo-Soprano) also favored the audience with their talents, offering additional vocal and narrative support. The four female soloists performed a stunning quartet which completely captivated the audience. All the soloists had absolutely phenomenal voices that elevated the production to an even higher level.
Overall the performance of Elijah was a wonderful experience. It did go until almost 10 PM, which didn’t make it ideal for young children. However, the diversity of the different movements and the shifting between choral numbers and solos kept things moving nicely. It was just a lovely way to spend the evening, among so many people supporting their loved ones, listening to the tale of Elijah being told through this well executed Oratorio. The Salt Lake Choral Artists are offering several other shows throughout the year and I highly recommend going if you have the chance. They perform a wide range of music from musical theater to classical.
Salt Lake Choral Artists presents Elijah – An Oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn
1375 Presidents’ Cir, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Tickets: $20
April 27, 2019 7:30 PM
Salt Lake Choral Artists Website
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