St. Paul ( Paulus ), Op. 36 was composed in 1834-1836 by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) as his first large-scale oratorio, a work that reflects his deep engagement with the sacred choral traditions of Bach and Handel while embracing Romantic lyricism. ST. PAUL traces the dramatic story of Saul's conversion and subsequent ministry. The oratorio premiered on May 22, 1836, at the Lower Rhine Music Festival in Düsseldorf, where it was met with immediate acclaim and helped solidify Mendelssohn's international reputation as a leading composer of sacred choral works. The chorus No. 25 - "Wie lieblich sind die Boten" (How lovely are the messengers) - appears in Part II, and it remains one of the most beloved movements from the oratorio, frequently performed in concert and church settings. Reprint edition.