170 years after its premiere, Felix Mendelssohn’s oratorio “Elijah” retains its popularity. A smash in Victorian England when it was first performed, on Aug. 26, 1846, this tale of the travails and triumph of the Old Testament prophet remains a favorite of singers and audiences alike.
Elijah will once again ride his chariot of fire into heaven this Sunday at 7 p.m., as Jason Tramm leads the Great Auditorium Choir and Adelphi Orchestra in this season’s “Sacred Masterworks” offering. Soloists will include soprano Monica Rose Ziglar, mezzo-soprano Martha Bartz, and tenor Ronald Naldi. Bass-baritone Justin Beck will sing the title role.
“At Ocean Grove, we have a history of doing these large masterworks since the early 1900s,” says Tramm, who is also artistic director of the MidAtlantic Opera Company. “It’s a wonderful legacy. We have a very large chorus for this event, about 140 singers, and a 50-piece orchestra. I think that anyone who comes is going to be delighted.”
The Great Auditorium at Ocean Grove is the largest enclosed auditorium in New Jersey. Its barrel-vaulted, wooden ceiling is a practical throwback to the days before amplification. In its original layout, the hall had close to 10,000 seats, reflective of its mission as a facility for camp meetings.
“Music is such an integral part of Ocean Grove’s DNA,” Tramm says. “It’s quite a tradition, founded in 1869. It’s a unique place, a historical place. A lot of great musicians have been here and performed here, from John Philip Sousa to Enrico Caruso. I think those ghosts are still there. I think that the wonderful acoustic and the unique environment make it a really special place to go see music.”
Read more about “Elijah” on this, its 170th anniversary, in my article in today’s Trenton Times:
http://www.nj.com/times-entertainment/index.ssf/2016/08/classical_music_great_auditori.html