Felix Mendelssohn’s oratorio about the prophet Elias has remained a favourite of choirs and audiences ever since the composer himself conducted the premiere (in English) at the Birmingham Festival in 1846. The oratorio is the vivid portrayal of Elias, who opens the piece with a curse bringing a drought upon the faithless Israelites. He urges them to renounce the idol worship of the god Baal, promoted by King Ahab, and to return to the Lord. Despair, cruelty, relief and mercy all play their part in the story until the turmoil is finally resolved.