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The Dream of Gerontius

Edward Gardner conducts Elgar's 'The Dream of Gerontius' with Christine Rice, Paul Groves and Neal Davies, Clare College Choir and the London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra

The Dream of Gerontius, one of the most moving works in the choral repertory, is based on a poem by the Catholic Cardinal (now Saint) John Henry Newman which tells the story of the dying Gerontius's soul as it passes from life into death, from judgement to purgatory. Elgar imagined Gerontius as a man like us with all his worldly sins, brought before God for judgement. He poured his heart into the work, throughout the score his great mastery of orchestration and choral writing is on display and it is for good reason that Elgar wrote at the end of his manuscript 'This is the best of me..this, if anything of mine, is worth your memory.'

Elgar - The Dream of Gerontius

Angel ..... Christine Rice (mezzo soprano)
Gerontius ..... Paul Groves (tenor)
Priest/Angel of the Agony ..... Neal Davies (bass)
Choir of Clare College Cambridge
London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra
Edward Gardner (conductor)

Performance given in March 2011 at The Royal Festival Hall.

Photo: Edward Gardner credit Benjamin Ealogvega

2 hours, 28 minutes

Last on

Tue 14 Apr 2020 19:30

Music Played

  • Edward Elgar

    Dream of Gerontius Part One

    Singer: Christine Rice. Singer: Paul Groves. Singer: Neal Davies. Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Choir: London Philharmonic Choir. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
  • Edward Elgar

    Dream of Gerontius Part Two

    Singer: Christine Rice. Singer: Paul Groves. Singer: Neal Davies. Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Choir: London Philharmonic Choir. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    The Art of Fugue BWV.1080, Nos 1 and 2

    Ensemble: Aris Quartet.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet in C sharp minor Op.131

    Ensemble: Aris Quartet.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Keyboard Concerto No 2 in E major, BWV 1053 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Christophe Rousset.
    • J.S. Bach The Complete Harpsichord Concertos.
    • Decca.
    • 2.

Broadcast

  • Tue 14 Apr 2020 19:30

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