Elijah features Quasthoff in Portland, Eugene

The Oregon Bach Festival returns to Portland with Mendelssohn's epic  masterwork Elijah Friday, July 9 with soloist Thomas Quasthoff in the lead role.

Helmuth Rilling conducts the OBF soloists, chorus and orchestra in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Elijah is reprised as the Festival's finale in Eugene July 11.

The musical setting of the Old Testament tale tells of a prophet embroiled in the dangers of false gods, tyrannical kings, threat of drought, and a mystical journey through the wilderness. The events unfold swiftly in Mendelssohn’s musical drama, and the audience for its 1846 premiere demanded and received eight encores.

Quasthoff made his American debut at the 1995 Festival and from there rocketed to stardom on the world’s great stages. A three-time Grammy winner, he has been the subject of numerous articles in major press including Time, People and Esquire magazines. He has been profiled on the CBS news program 60 Minutes and on the NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. 

In a review of Quasthoff's May 2010 appearance in Carnegie Hall, Steve Smith of The New York Times wrote that he is, "to put it bluntly, one of the greatest vocal artists now performing....he is at the pinnacle of his powers."

Quashtoff is joined on the Schnitzer hall stage by soprano Elizabeth Keusch, alto Roxana Constantinescu, and tenor James Taylor.

Tickets per concert range from $17-$63 and are on sale through TicketMaster.com and all outlets, including the Portland Center for the Performing Arts box office, 1111 SW Broadway.

Additional concert details: Mendelssohn Elijah, Portland: Friday July 9, 7:30 pm. Eugene: Sunday, July 11, 3 pm. Many thanks to our OBF concert sponsors: Lufthansa, 1859 Oregon's Magazine, the stations of All Classical FM (Portland); Valley River Inn, KEZI (Eugene).