A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Mount of Olives

MOUNT OF OLIVES. The English name of Beethoven's oratorio, 'Christus am Oelberg.' It was first produced in this country on Feb. 25, 1814, by Sir George Smart, in the Lenten oratorios at Drury Lane; and the English version was probably made by Arnold, at that time manager of the King's Theatre and a prominent person in all theatrical matters. Another version was made by the late Thos. Oliphant, and a third, more recently, by Mr. Bartholomew. The strong feeling prevailing in England against the appearance of our Saviour as a personage in the oratorio, which led to the modifications in the versions already mentioned, led to one by Dr. Hudson of Dublin in 1842, in which the story was changed to that of David, and the title to Engedi. This however is now given up; and indeed in the latest version of the book, by the Rev. J. Troutbeck for the Leeds Festival, the Saviour reappears among the characters.

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