It was Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” that inspired Mendelssohn to compose his most profound music. Declarations of personal faith that have moved audiences for over a century: Elijah, St. Paul and the Hymn of Praise. Hear Beethoven’s tender Elegiac Song and Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, then Mendelssohn’s monumental Hymn of Praise sung by the combined chorale forces  of Philharmonia Chorale, U.C. Berkeley and Stanford in this rare period-instrument performance.

BEETHOVEN Leonore Overture No. 3
BEETHOVEN Elegiac Song (Elegischer Gesang)
BEETHOVEN Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage (Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt)
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 2, Hymn of Praise (Lobgesang)

Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Dominique Labelle, soprano
Thomas Cooley, tenor
Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, director
Guest choruses from UC Berkeley and Stanford