Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Psalm 114 | Riccardo Chailly and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra

Riccardo Chailly, the Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Gewandhaus Choir of the choir of Opera Leipzig perform Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy‘s Psalm 114, Op. 51 in G major ‘Da Israel aus Ägypten zog’ (When Israel out of Egypt came) in the Gewandhaus, Leipzig.

Mendelssohn Bartholdy's work for eight-part choir, and orchestra, was played on the occasion of Riccardo Chailly’s 2005 inaugural concert as Kapellmeister of Leipzig’s Gewandhaus. Chailly remained head conductor there until 2016. The concert was a feast of Mendelssohn Bartholdy – performed by the orchestra that he himself once led, from 1835 to 1847, as their Kapellmeister.

Throughout his career Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy drew inspiration from the texts of the Psalms. Alongside acapella pieces he left us eight grand, orchestral Psalms. One of the most impressive of these is without a doubt the monumental Psalm 114, Op. 51 ‘Da Israel aus Ägypten zog’, for orchestra and eight voices. Mendelssohn Bartholdy composed the choral work in 1839, and it celebrated its world premiere in 1840.

The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra today looks back over a history of some 250 years. In that time, it has made music history – evolving into one of the world’s best-known and highly regarded orchestras. Famous conductors have included Wilhelm Furtwängler, Bruno Walter, and Kurt Masur – amongst others – and, of course, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.

(00:00) I. Da Israel aus Ägypten zog
(02:34) II. Das Meer sah und floh
(05:22) III. Was war dir, du Meer
(09:26) IV. Vor dem Herrn bebte die Erde

© Euroarts Music International

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