A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Christus
CHRISTUS, an oratorio projected by Mendelssohn to form the third of a trilogy with 'St. Paul' and 'Elijah.' The book of words was sketched by Chevalier Bunsen, and given to Mendelssohn at Easter 1844, before he had begun 'Elijah.' He made great alterations in it, and in 1847, his last year, after 'Elijah' was off his hands, during his visit to Switzerland, made so much progress with the work that 8 numbers of recitatives and choruses—3 from the first part, 'the birth of Christ,' and 5 from the second part, 'the sufferings of Christ,'—were sufficiently completed to be published soon after his death (op. 97; No. 27 [App. p.591 "26"] of the posthumous works). The fragments were first performed at the Birmingham Musical Festival, September 8, 1852.
[ G. ]