# Concerts others
# Classical concert
112th Good Friday Concert, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, St. Paul op.36
Evang.-ref. Kirche St. Johann, Kirchhofplatz 7, 8200 Schaffhausen
70 / 55 / 45 CHF Box office: students 30/20/15 CHF on presentation of ID
Young people up to 18 years free in the 2nd category on presentation of ID
Young people up to 18 years free in the 2nd category on presentation of ID
Mendelssohn's oratorio "Paul", a brilliant composition by the 26-year-old, tells the story of the miraculous transformation of Saul, the persecutor of Christians, into Paul, the early Christian missionary.
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, St. Paul
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy became acquainted with the sacred works of the great old masters at a young age and opened up the world of oratorios, particularly with his revival of Handel's works. In Paulus we find a masterful fusion of the intimacy of Bach and the expressive power of Handel's orchestration. Together with Mendelssohn's creative talent, an ingenious mixture was created, which can be understood from the restlessness of the dawning Romantic era and which sought stability and security by borrowing from Baroque formal rigor. Mendelssohn completed his oratorio Paulus in 1835 at the age of 26. He wrote the text together with a friend, the Protestant pastor Julius Fürst. The oratorio was premiered at the Lower Rhine Music Festival in Düsseldorf at Whitsun 1836 and was performed in English in Liverpool in the same year. Within a short space of time, it was performed to enthusiastic audiences throughout Europe and America.
In 1914, the work was performed for the first time at a Good Friday concert in Schaffhausen, after Mendelssohnʹs second oratorio Elijah had already been performed by the Schaffhausen Male and Female Choir at the first Good Friday concert in 1872.
In 1992, the oratorio Christus was performed on Good Friday, a work with which Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy wanted to complete a trilogy, but which unfortunately remained unfinished. In the first part, after a large-scale choral fantasia on "Awake, the voice calls to us", the sermon, the miracles and visions and finally the stoning of Stephen are depicted. Saul, the persecutor of Christians, rages against the disciples and their followers. On the way to Damascus, however, Jesus appears to him. Jesus' words "Saul, why are you persecuting me" are composed for a four-part female choir, almost angelic, in dialog with the shaken Saul. After three days of blindness, the scales fall from Saul's eyes, he can see again, is baptized and, after a profound trial, becomes a chosen proclaimer of the good news of Christ's teachings. The choir accompanies this wonderful transformation of Saul into a deeply believing Paul and concludes the first part with the moving fugue "Oh what depth of riches, wisdom and knowledge of God!" The second part of the oratorio opens with a magnificent praise to God "The world is now the Lord's" and deals with the Apostle Paul's missionary work in the Hellenistic world. Paul now experiences incomprehension, hatred and persecution, but remains true to his faith. The choir accompanies his further journey through life on the one hand with such deeply moving choruses as "How lovely are the messengers who proclaim peace." On the other hand, he once again slips into the role of the persecutors with the angry, furious chorus "Isn't that..., away, away with him!" and a plea to stone the apostle Paul too. Paul once again suffers the tragic persecution of his predecessor Stephen, but without having to die. The work concludes with a melodious double fugue in which God's justice towards the martyr Paul and all believers is praised.
As an oratorio dispenses with a staged performance, the soloists and choir each take on several narrative roles. You will be able to read the full text of the work in the program booklet to better follow the dramatic course of events.
We hope you enjoy the music!
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy became acquainted with the sacred works of the great old masters at a young age and opened up the world of oratorios, particularly with his revival of Handel's works. In Paulus we find a masterful fusion of the intimacy of Bach and the expressive power of Handel's orchestration. Together with Mendelssohn's creative talent, an ingenious mixture was created, which can be understood from the restlessness of the dawning Romantic era and which sought stability and security by borrowing from Baroque formal rigor. Mendelssohn completed his oratorio Paulus in 1835 at the age of 26. He wrote the text together with a friend, the Protestant pastor Julius Fürst. The oratorio was premiered at the Lower Rhine Music Festival in Düsseldorf at Whitsun 1836 and was performed in English in Liverpool in the same year. Within a short space of time, it was performed to enthusiastic audiences throughout Europe and America.
In 1914, the work was performed for the first time at a Good Friday concert in Schaffhausen, after Mendelssohnʹs second oratorio Elijah had already been performed by the Schaffhausen Male and Female Choir at the first Good Friday concert in 1872.
In 1992, the oratorio Christus was performed on Good Friday, a work with which Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy wanted to complete a trilogy, but which unfortunately remained unfinished. In the first part, after a large-scale choral fantasia on "Awake, the voice calls to us", the sermon, the miracles and visions and finally the stoning of Stephen are depicted. Saul, the persecutor of Christians, rages against the disciples and their followers. On the way to Damascus, however, Jesus appears to him. Jesus' words "Saul, why are you persecuting me" are composed for a four-part female choir, almost angelic, in dialog with the shaken Saul. After three days of blindness, the scales fall from Saul's eyes, he can see again, is baptized and, after a profound trial, becomes a chosen proclaimer of the good news of Christ's teachings. The choir accompanies this wonderful transformation of Saul into a deeply believing Paul and concludes the first part with the moving fugue "Oh what depth of riches, wisdom and knowledge of God!" The second part of the oratorio opens with a magnificent praise to God "The world is now the Lord's" and deals with the Apostle Paul's missionary work in the Hellenistic world. Paul now experiences incomprehension, hatred and persecution, but remains true to his faith. The choir accompanies his further journey through life on the one hand with such deeply moving choruses as "How lovely are the messengers who proclaim peace." On the other hand, he once again slips into the role of the persecutors with the angry, furious chorus "Isn't that..., away, away with him!" and a plea to stone the apostle Paul too. Paul once again suffers the tragic persecution of his predecessor Stephen, but without having to die. The work concludes with a melodious double fugue in which God's justice towards the martyr Paul and all believers is praised.
As an oratorio dispenses with a staged performance, the soloists and choir each take on several narrative roles. You will be able to read the full text of the work in the program booklet to better follow the dramatic course of events.
We hope you enjoy the music!
Opening hours
Doors open 60 minutes before the concert beginsMore dates
Contact
Oratorienchor Schaffhausen