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Special Performance Of Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn In April

Updated: Wednesday, March 28 2012, 04:45 AM CDT
By Rob Faubion, Austin On Stage - www.austinonstage.com

The Sarofim School of Fine Arts will stage a joint collaboration with Southwestern University Chorale and the San Gabriel Chorale and Orchestra to perform the oratorio Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn on Saturday, April 14 at 7 p.m. in the Alma Thomas Theater.  The performance will be conducted by Dr. Kenny Sheppard, with Dr. Bruce Cain in the title role.
    
Mendelssohn’s oratorio was first performed at the Birmingham Festival in 1846 and depicts events in the life of the prophet Elijah.  Taken from the books of Kings in the Hebrew scripture, Elijah is second only to Handel’s Messiah as the most-often performed oratorio.
     
The main events in the oratorio include Elijah bringing a drought on Israel as retribution for the people turning to the false god, Baal, under the leadership of King Ahab and his infamous Queen, Jezebel. After a three-year drought, Elijah arranges a contest with the worshipers of Baal to determine whose god was supreme. Elijah wins the contest by having God send fire from heaven to consume an altar of wood.
    
After winning the people over to his God, Elijah brings rain to the parched land. These events anger Ahab and Jezebel, and Elijah is forced to flee into the wilderness.  In the end, Elijah is taken to heaven in a fiery chariot.
     
Dr. Kenny Sheppard is Professor of Music and current William Carrington Finch Professor at Southwestern University in Georgetown.  Under his leadership, the Southwestern University Chorale has performed at the Orchestra of Santa Fe Bach Festival, for state and national music conventions, and with the Austin Symphony.  He also serves as the conductor of the Georgetown Festival Chorus and served as the Artistic Director for Chorus Austin from 2001 to 2008.
     
Dr. Bruce A. Cain is Associate Professor of Music and director of the Opera Theatre at Southwestern University and has performed in operas and concerts throughout the United States and Europe. His prolific career has included lead roles in The Magic Flute, Cold Sassy Tree, Falstaff, The Elixir of Love, Die Fledermaus, La Bohème and Cosi fan tutté.
    
For the past 22 years, the all-volunteer San Gabriel Chorale has presented large-scale choral works with orchestras both in Central Texas and abroad. Their members have participated in tours to Carnegie Hall, Central Europe and China.
    
Tickets for the performance of Elijah are $20 for general admission.  Admission is free for Southwestern University faculty, staff and students with a university ID.
The Alma Thomas Theater is located at 1001 East University Avenue on the campus of Southwestern University in Georgetown.  For more information and reservations, call (512) 863-1504 or visit www.SanGabrielChorale.com.
 
(Photos of Dr. Kenny Sheppard [top left] and Bruce Cain [top right] courtesy Southwestern University)Special Performance Of Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn In April