Mendelssohn’s St. Paul, premiered in 1836, depicts the transformation of Saul of Tarsus into the Apostle Paul. The work begins with the martyrdom of St. Stephen and Saul's zealous persecution of Christians, leading to his conversion on the road to Damascus, where he encounters Christ. Blinded and later healed by Ananias, Saul is baptized and becomes Paul, dedicating his life to spreading the Gospel. Deeply rooted in the traditions of Bach and Handel, yet infused with Mendelssohn’s distinctive Romantic voice, the oratorio concludes with scenes of Paul’s ministry, celebrating the transformative power of grace, redemption, and unwavering faith.

The learning files are broken up into two sections:

• Part 1S1:   Choral Movements 1-22
• Part 2S2:   Choral Movements 23-45

To start practicing, select a section, then select your vocal part. Playback will start automatically. Sing easy. Practicing independently does not need to sound beautiful and should never strain your voice. Your choral conductor will appreciate the time you took to master the notes and rhythm.