Felix Mendelssohn’s Handelian oratorio, better known in the English-speaking world as Elijah, calls for a protagonist who in the words of the composer is “strong, zealous, and yes, bad-tempered, angry, and brooding.” The Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel is one who used to revel in the part. Who could forget the moment when Israel’s false prophets raised their voices to Baal and got no answer? “Call him louder!” Terfel’s Elijah snarled, dripping with sarcasm. The charismatic German baritone Christian Gerhaher, taking the part now in Berlin, is another singing actor who knows how to make the most of words and music. —Matthew Gurewitsch