Composer

:

Felix Mendelssohn

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Oratorio

Compose Date

:

1847

Publication Date

:

1852

First Performance

:

Sep 2002Sep 1852

Average_duration

:

23:15

Movement_count

:

7

Movement ....

Christus, Op. 97 is an oratorio composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1846. It was premiered on March 16, 1852, in Birmingham, England, and was one of Mendelssohn's last major works before his death in 1847. The oratorio is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different aspect of the life of Christ. The first part, titled "The Prophecy," begins with a chorus of angels announcing the coming of the Messiah. It then moves on to a series of recitatives and arias that recount the prophecies of the Old Testament that foretold the birth of Christ. The second part, titled "The Birth," tells the story of the Nativity. It begins with a chorus of shepherds and angels announcing the birth of Christ, followed by a series of recitatives and arias that describe the events surrounding the birth, including the visit of the Magi and the flight into Egypt. The third and final part, titled "The Passion," focuses on the events leading up to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. It begins with a chorus of the disciples asking Jesus to teach them how to pray, followed by a series of recitatives and arias that recount the events of the Last Supper, the betrayal by Judas, the trial before Pilate, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection. One of the characteristics of Christus is Mendelssohn's use of chorales, which are hymn-like melodies that are sung by the choir. These chorales serve as a unifying element throughout the oratorio, and are used to emphasize important moments in the story. Another characteristic of Christus is Mendelssohn's use of orchestration to create a sense of drama and emotion. For example, in the section describing the Crucifixion, the orchestra plays a mournful melody while the choir sings a text that describes the darkness that fell over the land. Overall, Christus is a powerful and moving work that showcases Mendelssohn's skill as a composer and his deep faith in Christianity. Its premiere was a great success, and it has since become a beloved part of the choral repertoire.

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