Music Reviews : Master Chorale Performs ‘Elijah’ at Dorothy Chandler

Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” brought out the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Sinfonia in their largest, grandest manifestations, Saturday evening at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. It also brought out a big effort from music director John Currie, appropriately swift and dramatic in the first half, meditative or majestic in ending.

For some of the pre-intermission airs, the pace proved a little too quick, but the choruses were taut and vivid. From the opening cries of “Help, Lord!” the choir made its weight felt and demonstrated the ability and will for narration as well as action.

Despite the choral power, the Sinfonia covered the chorus in its lower range in the most active portions. Otherwise, its support was vigorous, occasionally crude in intonation and ensemble, but providing a full, Romantic palette.

In the multifarious title role was baritone Herbert Eckhoff, singing with ringing, orotund authority. The stentorian glories were largely undifferentiated in the first half, whether taunting the priests of Baal or pleading with the Lord. He found only slightly more vocal variety for the exalted despair of “It is enough,” but rode the big climaxes easily.

Soprano Juliana Gondek, mezzo Christine Cairns and tenor Jonathan Mack supplied fluent, assured sounds in their airs and ensembles, and varying degrees of characterization. Cathy Larsen sang the bright watch cries of the Youth.