Sir, - I would be glad of the opportunity to correct some misinformation contained in Michael Dervan's review of the performance of Mendelssohn's Elijah by Our Lady's Choral Society. He stated in his review (May 15th) that the current CD catalogue lists only five complete recordings of the work, and all in the German text version.
I'm not sure that his copy is current, as the January 1996 edition lists on page 509 under the heading "English text versions" the following four complete recordings: R. Fruhbech de Burgos (1968) EMI CZS5 68601-2; Hickox (1990) CHAN 8774/5; Robert Shaw (1994) Telarc CD 80389; N Marriner (1991) Philips 432-984-2PH2. To these has recently been added M Sargent (1957) CDCFPSD 4802.
This information may be of use to your readers who might wish to purchase one of the available English language versions.
However, he also states that the entire orchestral and choral forces travelled from London for the 1846 premiere. While the majority of the orchestral members were drawn from the London Philharmonic and the opera orchestras (85 out of 125 players), only 62 singers in the chorus of 271 were brought from London. Also travelling on that train journey with Mendelssohn were the solo singers, his friends Moscheles and a formidable array of music critics. - Yours, etc..
Librarian/Programme Editor,
OLCS,
Haddington Road,
Dublin 4.