Tenerife Symphony Performs Mendelssohn’s 'Paulus' for First Time in Archipelago History

The Tenerife Symphony is making history this week with the archipelago’s first-ever performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s oratorio, Paulus. The orchestra is presenting the work over two days, starting with a special adaptation at the Cathedral of La Laguna and concluding with a full performance tonight at the Auditorio de Tenerife.

This project celebrates a decade of collaboration between the orchestra and the Diocese of Tenerife, a partnership that has become a cornerstone of the region’s Holy Week cultural calendar. Written when Mendelssohn was young, Paulus premiered in 1836 and was celebrated for blending the traditional structure of Bach’s Lutheran passions with 19th-century Romantic style. Conductor Víctor Pablo Pérez noted that the piece was once considered as significant and popular as Handel’s Messiah.

To tackle this demanding work, the Tenerife Symphony will be joined by soloists Alicia Amo, Rinat Shaham, Airam Hernández, and Josep-Ramon Olivé, alongside the Tenerife Opera-Intermezzo Choir, directed by Miguel Ángel Arqued.

Tonight’s concert begins at 7:30 p.m., but the evening starts earlier with two outreach events. At 6:30 p.m., José Lorenzo Chinea will lead an informative session at the Sala Avenida, organized by the Tenerife Association of Friends of Music (Atadem). This will be followed at 6:45 p.m. by a "Musical Viewpoint" session at the Galería Castillo, where attendees can meet the guest artists.

Tickets are still available online, by phone at 902 317 327, or at the venue’s box office, which is open today until 5:00 p.m.