On Tour in Bristol
Sir Antonio Pappano
Bristol Beacon
The Concert
Edward Elgar
The Dream of Gerontius
Sir Antonio Pappano conductor
Emily D’Angelo mezzo-soprano
David Butt Philip tenor
William Thomas bass
London Symphony Chorus
London Symphony Orchestra
Tickets
Available from Bristol Beacon
The Concert
Elgar’s oratorio includes some of his most deeply felt music, sumptuously scored and plumbing every emotion from anguish to elation.
The Music
Elgar considered The Dream of Gerontius to be his finest work. In setting Cardinal Newman’s poem, which charts a soul’s journey to judgment, Elgar summoned all his creative powers to compose an oratorio of Wagnerian scope and beauty.
The opening Prelude alone is Elgar at his most heart-rending. As Gerontius dies and makes his way to the afterlife, we’re plunged into a world of angels and demons, depicted by choruses and arias in music of startling originality. The final, peaceful ‘Angel’s Farewell’ is a breath-taking, exquisite moment of Elgarian genius.
The Performers
Elgar’s great choral work gets the star treatment at the hands of Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano and the LSO, who are joined by the superb London Symphony Chorus and a cohort of world-class soloists.
This is the best of me.
Composer Edward Elgar on The Dream of Gerontius
