Terrific music, inspiring performance
Gontroppo | Bathurst, NSW Australia | 11/27/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am delighted with this recording. The music is beautiful and sensitively sets the story of Paul. It begins with a moving overture on the Wachet Auf chorale, and then the work continues with the story of the stoning of Stephen and Paul's conversion.
The work is like Mendelssohn's attempt at being a Nineteenth Century Bach. He wrote it at his father's urging, and when his father died before its completion, he felt especially charged with the task of making it as great as he could, in his father's honour.
The text is mainly taken from the New Testament, and consists of passages from The Acts of the Apostles, but also some of Paul's own writings, and Psalms.
It is every bit as good as Elijah, which has become much more well-known.
The recording features some superb soloists and a stirring chorus.
Highly recommended"