19th Annual Founders Day Concert: A Tribute to Saint Paul

Intermountain Catholic

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The Choir of the Cathedral of the Madeleine , the Madeleine School Choir choristers, and the Chamber Orchestra perform Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's Paulus, Opus 36, under the direction of Gregory A. Glenn March 22 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine as part of the 19th annual concert season. Mendelssohn's oratorio is a tribute to Saint Paul and has excerpts from the New Testament. IC photo by Priscilla Cabral.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Choir of the Cathedral of the Madeleine and the Madeleine Choir School choristers presented the 19th annual Founders Day Concert March 22 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City.

The choir and choristers were accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra to perform Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s oratorio Paulus, Opus 36, under the direction of Gregory A. Glenn, founder of the Madeleine Choir School. Paulus is based on the story of Saul’s journey to become Paul, the saint of the gentiles.

Mendelssohn’s work starts with a crowd condemning Stephen and stoning him to death. Later, Stephen’s clothes are laid down at the feet of Saul, a zealous Pharisee who consented unto his death.

"Now Saul made havoc of the church; and breathing out threatenings and murder against the disciples, he spake of them much evil, and said: ‘Consume them all Lord Sabaoth! Consume all these thine enemies!’" continues the story.

The oratorio includes the dialogue in which Jesus reveals himself to Saul.

"Rise! Up! Arise! Rise and shine, for thy light comes, and the glory of the Lord riseth bright upon thee. Behold, now total darkness covereth the kingdoms, gross darkness the people. But upon thee riseth the mighty Lord. The glory of the Lord appeareth upon thee," says Jesus to Saul.

The young Pharisee goes blind for three days, repents, and promises to spread the Gospel.

"I will speak of thy salvation, I will teach transgressors, and sinners shall be converted unto thee; then open my lips, o Lord! And my mouth shall show forth thy glorious praise!"

Saul gets baptized and changes his name to Paul. He preaches with authority and converts many.

"But when the Jews saw the multitudes, how they assembled to hear Paul delivered unto them, they were filled with envy and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming."

Paul is eventually arrested and sentenced to death, but he is not afraid.

"For I am prepared only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord our Savior Jesus Christ!"

The narrator then ends the story praising the saint.

"And though he be offered upon the sacrifice of our faith, yet he hath fought a good fight, he hath finished his course, he hath kept well the faith: henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give him at the last great day… Bless thou the Lord, o my soul, and all within me bless his most holy name evermore. All ye his angels, bless ye the Lord!"

At a young age, Mendelssohn proved to be a musical prodigy and is now considered to be one of the greatest musicians and composers of all times along with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Sebastian Bach. Mendelssohn and his family were Jewish but converted to Christianity when he was just a child. He used the New Testament as inspiration to compose Paulus, using excerpts from the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles.