THE powerful message of Mendelssohn's 'Elijah" thrilled a large audience in St Davids Cathedral recently, as part of the Milford Haven Music Festival.

Festival Artistic Director, award-winning baritone Gary Griffiths, took on the title role, his performance complemented by the beautiful singing of the three supporting artistes: crystal-clear soprano Camilla Roberts, velvet-voiced mezzo Rebecca Aeronwy Jones and towering tenor Trystan Llyr Griffiths, who went to school in north Pembrokeshire.

Tying everything together was Cardiff choir Côr CF1, current holders of the choir of the year title, who provided the chorus.

The choir spent three months learning more than 200 pages of music for this performance.

And an added dimension was provided by the British Sinfonietta orchestra conducted by Eilir Owen Griffiths with Huw Tregelles Williams at the organ.

Despite not earning the same acclaim as works by his predecessors Bach and Handel, Mendelssohn's oratio has been popular all over the world since its premiere 170 years ago at the Birmingham Festival.

Mendelssohn wrote the soprano role expressly for the "Swedish Nightingale" Jenny Lind, and he would undoubtedly have approved of the four distinguished soloists in this latest performance.