Mendelssohn's Saint Paul

16 Sep 2023 (Sat) 8:00 pm
Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
Tickets: $200, $160, $120
Tickets available from 16 August onwards at all URBTIX outlets, self service ticketing kiosks, on internet, by mobile ticketing app URBTIX (Android and iPhone/iPad versions) and telephone booking.
Conductor: CHAN Wing-wah
Soprano: Julia CHEN
Mezzo-soprano: Anna CHAN
Tenor: Freddie TSANG
Bass: Petrus CHEUNG
Organ: WONG Kin-yu
Choir: Hong Kong Oratorio Society
Orchestra: Hong Kong Strings
Saint Paul as Mendelssohn's first oratorio. It was first performed in Düsseldorf on 22 May 1836, with an orchestra of 172 and chorus of 364. After its première, Saint Paul at once achieved numerous triumphant performances abroad. Most of the lyrics come from Paul's deeds in the Bible's "Acts of the Apostles", and some are also taken from Paul's letters, "Psalms" and prophetic books. It was conceived in 2 parts. Part I, illustrates the persecution of Stephen, the appearance of Christ before Saul (Paul's name before trust in Jesus) on the road to Damascus and his conversion. Part II of the oratorio continues with missionary journeys of Paul and Barnabas from Syria, Asia and Achaia, Paul's continuous persecution by the Jews, and finally Paul's parting words to all believers when he prepared to go to Jerusalem for his martyrdom. We will hear one of the oratorio's best-loved choruses, "How lovely are the messengers" in part II. Mendelssohn's Saint Paul and Elijah, these two oratorio becoming the representative works of the times to achieve lasting popularity.
The Hong Kong Oratorio Society (HKOS) is a non-profit-making organization founded in 1956 by Mr. Theodore Huang and a group of music enthusiasts who believed that singing beautiful music would bring joy to singers and listeners alike. It further helps to enhance our personal quality and provide citizens with rich spiritual and cultural life.
From a humble start with a handful of music enthusiasts to over a hundred members of different nationalities, the HKOS – guided by generations of great musicians – has become the most active choir with the longest history and the largest membership in Hong Kong. It usually presents 3-5 concerts per year with a total of more than three hundred concerts performed since inception. Its repertoire covers oratorios and major choral works by classical and contemporary composers. They include the masterpieces of Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Chinese composers Xian Xinghai and Huang Zi. Many of these works were debuted in Hong Kong.
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Hong Kong Oratorio Society 香港聖樂團
Concerts Timeline




















26 Nov 1980
Alleluja (Bach/Handel/ Thompson), Mass in G (Vaughan Williams), Dixit Dominus (Handel)


13 Jun 1982
Gloria (Vivaldi), Messa di Gloria (Puccini) - City Hall 20th Anniversary Concert






4 Jun 1984
The King Shall Rejoice(Handel), Jesu, My Great Pleasure (Bach), Lord Nelson Mass (Haydn)



30-31 Dec 1985
Shanghai Music Hall, Shanghai, China Mass in C (Beethoven), Messiah - Part 1 (Handel)





20 Mar 1988
Motets (Bruckner), Gloria (Puccini), Messiah choruses (Handel) - Korea Pre-Tour Concert




















1 Jul 1995
Concert to Mark the 50th Anniversary of the End of World War II - Verdi Requiem













2, 7 Jul 1997
[Melodies of a New Era] by HK Association of Choral Societies joint choir concerts


19 Oct 1997
An Evening with Schubert (Commemorating 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Schubert)












29 Dec 1998
Symphony No 9 (Beethoven) Beijing Concert with Allegro Singers and Mainland Chinese choruses






22 Oct 1999
The Soul of China - Song of Everlasting Lament (Huang Zi) and Lin Sheng Shih choral works 中華魂- 長恨歌及林聲翕聲槳作品演唱會









20 July 2001
Summary Harmony (Hong Kong): Grand Mass in C Minor (Mozart) & Selected Choral Works by Various Composers

13 Aug 2001
Summary Harmony (Taiwan): Grand Mass in C Minor (Mozart) & Selected Choral Works by Various Composers


16 Dec 2001
Christmas Concert 2001: Mendelssohn's Psalm 95, Vaughan Williams's Fantasia on Christmas Carols



























15-16 July 2006
Beijing Tour Concert: Fauré- Requiem (presented by Beijing Central Ballet Symphony Orchestra)

18 Sep 2006
Golden Jubilee Concert Series: Amadeus, Father & Son, 3 Generations of MOZARTS

14 & 16 Dec 2006
Golden Jubilee Concert Series: Bach’s Magnificat & Spanish Delights - Shenzhen & Hong Kong Conerts



11 Jul 2007
Allegro Singers 43rd Anniversary Concert : CHAN Wing-wah –This Boundless Land (presented by Allegro Singers)a










19 Jul 2009
Handel’s Messiah – HKOS Fund Raising Concert for Tianhe Church, Guangzhou, China

















19 Oct 2013
A concert to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of Dr. Heyward Wong



25 May 2014
VOS and HKOS Jointly Present Canada Concert - Vancouver: Our Everlasting Father

31 May 2014
VOS and HKOS Jointly Present Canada Concert - Galgary : Our Everlasting Father














10 Sep 2016
HKOS 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Concert: Hong Kong Concert – The Voices of Heaven













15 December 2019
'Cheers!' Series: Christmas Concert: Handel's Messiah 「冬日開懷集」系列: 聖誕音樂會:韓德爾《彌賽亞》

16 - 18 November 2020
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of Beethoven: Aerial Symphony Concert 《天空交響曲》紀念貝多芬誕辰二百五十周年演奏會




24 September 2022
Te Deum In Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR慶祝香港特別行政區成立二十五周年︰謝恩讚美頌




