Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Paulus - Oratorio

Freiburger Martinschor
Oratorio "Paulus" by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

"From Saul to Paulus" - the proverbial conversion of the persecutor of Christians to a follower of Jesus and missionary is a central event in Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's oratorio "Paulus". The young Mendelssohn gives it an impressive musical setting with string tremolos, enraptured winds and the voice of Jesus as a female choir. As a 20-year-old, he had already played a major part in the Bach renaissance of his time with his performance of the St. Matthew Passion, and his "Paul" also shows clear Baroque influences, including the use of the fugue, which he developed further in a Romantic style in keeping with his time.
Mendelssohn's "Paulus" was already a popular work during his lifetime and led to his international breakthrough. Even today, the work is moving due to its melodic variety and musical depth.

The work will be performed in the arrangement for chamber orchestra by Joachim Linckelmann.
The Freiburger Martinschor will sing with orchestra under the direction of Susanne Falk.

The soloists are
Katharina Persicke - soprano
Barbara Ostertag - alto
Florian Cramer - tenor
Ekkehard Abele - bass.

On the evening before the concert, there will be a spiritual introduction to Mendelsohn's "Paulus" by P. Thomas Brogl OP (Sat, 25.04.2026, 8 pm, Martinskirche - admission free).
For children aged 5 and over, the Freiburg Martinschor will also be performing an adapted version by concert educator Britta Riedmiller on Sat, 25.04.2026 at 5 pm to make the piece accessible to a younger audience aged 5 and over.