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Prom 59: Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius

Live at the 91Èȱ¬ Proms: Edward Gardner conducts the London Philharmonic in Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, with soloists Allan Clayton, Jamie Barton and James Platt.

Live at the 91Èȱ¬ Proms: Edward Gardner conducts the London Philharmonic in Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, with soloists Allan Clayton, Jamie Barton and James Platt.

Presented by Martin Handley, live at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius

Allan Clayton, tenor
Jamie Barton, mezzo-soprano
James Platt, bass
Hallé Choir
London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor

‘This is the best of me,’ wrote Elgar on the score of The Dream of Gerontius, and some would say that he never wrote anything greater. Gerontius lies dying – anguished and afraid. But he’s about to witness wonders beyond any human imagination, and in a great performance this epic, transcendently beautiful drama of a lonely soul’s journey towards eternity can move listeners to tears. ‘The chemistry was exactly right,’ wrote The Guardian about a previous performance by Edward Gardner and the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus; and with soloists of the calibre of Allan Clayton and Jamie Barton, this is one of those pieces that could have been made for the Royal Albert Hall.

2 hours, 29 minutes

Music Played

  • Edward Elgar

    The Dream of Gerontius

    Performer: Allan Clayton. Performer: Jamie Barton. Performer: James Platt. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner. Choir: London Philharmonic Choir. Choir: Hallé Choir.
  • Terry Riley

    Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector

    Ensemble: Ragazze Quartet. Ensemble: Kapok.
    • Riley – Four Four Three.
    • Channel Classics.
    • 2.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Trio Sonata for organ No 5 in C major, BWV 529

    Performer: Simon Preston.
    • DG.
  • William Byrd

    Mass for 5 voices (Gloria)

    Performer: Robert Quinney. Choir: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Conductor: James O’Donnell.
    • The Feast of Saint Peter the Apostle at Westminster Abbey: Quinney/O'Donnell.
    • Hyperion.
    • 8.
  • William Byrd

    Mass for 5 voices (Credo)

    Performer: Robert Quinney. Choir: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Conductor: James O’Donnell.
    • The Feast of Saint Peter the Apostle at Westminster Abbey: Quinney/O'Donnell.
    • Hyperion.
    • 9.
  • William Byrd

    Mass for 5 voices (Sanctus)

    Performer: Robert Quinney. Choir: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Conductor: James O’Donnell.
    • The Feast of Saint Peter the Apostle at Westminster Abbey: Quinney/O'Donnell.
    • Hyperion.
    • 10.
  • William Byrd

    Mass for 5 voices (Benedictus)

    Performer: Robert Quinney. Choir: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Conductor: James O’Donnell.
    • The Feast of Saint Peter the Apostle at Westminster Abbey: Quinney/O'Donnell.
    • Hyperion.
    • 11.
  • William Byrd

    Mass for 5 voices (Kyrie)

    Performer: Robert Quinney. Choir: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Conductor: James O’Donnell.
    • The Feast of Saint Peter the Apostle at Westminster Abbey: Quinney/O'Donnell.
    • Hyperion.
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Wed 31 Aug 2022 19:30

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