HISTORY OF MESDELSSOHN'S "ELIJAH."
' they made themselves unpleasant when I was there,* I consider that an injustice, against which I protest. Any further disturbance on the part of these gentlemen, I am sure, is not to be feared. That at least is my belief, shared probably by all concerned. So you will sincerely oblige me by having the selection made exactly as if I were not coming to England. The only consideration that can be shown me is not to take me into consideration at all. You will do me a favour by putting this very strongly to Mr. Moore, and requesting him to let the matter drop. If my wishes are to be complied with, the incident must herewith end. Should it be otherwise, I shall write a dozen letters in protest against what 1 should consider a spirit of vindictiveness. Excuse all this. — Ever yours,
"Felix."
Two months before the performance Mendelssohn reports that "an immense piece of ' Elijah' is not yet copied " ; and he writes to Moscheles to the effect that as the touch of the Birmingham organ was so very heavy the last time he played, he would not play one of his Sonatas at the Festival until he had first tried the organ ; also that when
- ' St. Paul " was given in 1837, it was followed
by a selection from Handel's Oratorios. *' I much disapproved of this," he says, "and trust it is not to be the case this time." He further adds that " Elijah " will take two hours in per- formance ; and that if there must be something added to occupy the orthodox three hours, it should ( 44 )
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