Mendelssohn: Paulus

Overshadowed today by his later, towering oratorio Elijah, Mendelssohn’s Paulus, from 1836, tends to get overlooked. This 1996 recording at last gave it its well-deserved moment in the sun, courtesy of choral conductor Philippe Herreweghe, whose recordings bear the hallmarks of both methodical research and an untainted passion for the music. Beginning with the overture that features a lushly Romantic orchestral arrangement of the Lutheran chorale “Wachet auf” (“Sleepers Awake”), Mendelssohn tells the story of St. Paul through passages from the Old and New Testaments. It’s all set to music that’s both instantly appealing and sophisticated. Herreweghe proves a superb advocate for this lesser-known gem of a work, while baritone Matthias Goerne is a fine Paulus, his aria “Gott, Sei Mir Gnädig” a poignant highlight. Joining Goerne is an equally impressive lineup of soloists: soprano Melanie Diener, mezzo Annette Markert, and tenor James Taylor, all of whom are subtly and beautifully supported by the choirs La Chapelle Royale and Collegium Vocale Gent and the Orchestre des Champs-Elysées.