A Summary of the Plot of Elijah

(Full program notes, written by Dr. Joshua Harper, can be found here.)

I’ve been watching and enjoying beautiful rehearsals for Sunday's 3 PM concert of Felix Mendelssohn’s grand oratorio Elijah. Dr. Joshua Harper is conducting the musicians of Arizona Philharmonic and his professional chorus Quartz Ensemble.

I am fascinated that the libretto (in English!) sings the prophet’s story mostly through dialog between Elijah, the people around him, and Angels. It is worth becoming familiar with the story before arriving at the concert.

Here is my very short summary of the complete libretto. The parts in (italics) are cut from this performance, to keep the concert length well under two hours:

Part 1:

The setting is in King Ahab’s and Queen Jezebel’s land, where the prophet Elijah and his servant Obadiah are nearly alone in the worship of Jehovah. The oratorio opens with Elijah prophesying a drought. Obadiah tells the distressed people that turning their faith to God would stop this serious drought. The people refuse to turn to God, who they believe is unfairly condemning them. (Elijah flees into hiding. At first ravens feed him, and then Elijah stays with a widow whose son he brings back to life.) Three years into the drought, Elijah returns to end the drought. He challenges King Ahab’s and Queen Jezebel’s prophets of the false gods (Baal) to a contest. First the prophets, and then Elijah, will each call their gods to burn a slain bullock, and whichever god starts the fire shall be “God the Lord”. Elijah mocks the other prophets’ repeated failed attempts. When God’s angels descend to ignite Elijah’s offering, the people fall in worship to Jehovah. The victorious Elijah calls for the false prophets to be executed. Elijah leads the people in prayer for forgiveness, while repeatedly asking a young child to look for forming rain clouds. Eventually the clouds and rain appear, and the first half concludes with the powerful chorus “Thanks be to God!”.

Part 2:

The people are reminded that God will comfort them and to “Be not afraid.” (Elijah accuses King Ahab of provoking God, but Queen Jezebel convinces the people that Elijah is the real troublemaker, so Elijah must perish.) Sentenced to death, Elijah once again flees. He is distraught at his failures to convert his people, and he wishes to die. Angels gather around a sleeping Elijah. They instruct him to travel far to Mount Horeb and to trust in the Lord. At the mountain, Elijah waits for the Lord, who does not appear in the subsequent hurricane, tsunami, earthquake, or fire, but in a small voice. Elijah is assured that 7,000 still follow the Lord, and a chariot carries away Elijah in full fiery display. (Soloists and chorus remark how Elijah and his accomplishments precede an anticipated future coming.) The oratorio closes with the beautiful blessing, “And then shall your light break forth.”

A more detailed and well-written summary, including the biblical background to the story, can be found here. If you want to read the dialog that will be sung, you can find the full libretto here.

This is our last concert of the season, and sales are going well! Elijah will be performed Sunday, April 2, at 3pm at the newly-named Jim & Linda Lee Performing Arts Center (formerly known as Yavapai College Performing Arts Center) in Prescott. Tickets and information are at AZPhil.org.

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