Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius/Edward Gardner repeats Gerontius on Radio Three

[Chris Newman]

Edward Gardner who last year conducted wonderful performances of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius in London and Salisbury returns to the work on Thursday 12th of April on Radio 3 at 7.30 in Birmingham. With the City of Birmingham Orchestra and Chorus he conducts in place of Andris Nelsons who has has to withdraw through family illness. Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano, is the Angel which should be a real treat, James Rutherford is the bass-baritone whilst the supple voiced young Robert Murray sings the tenor role. Mr Murray replaces Toby Spence who is indisposed. The concert is repeated at the Barbican, London, on Saturday the 14th.

[salymap]

Elgar The Dream of Gerontius

LIVE from Birmingham's Symphony Hall at 7.30pm on Thurday 12th April

City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Andris Nelsons

Sarah Connolly. Mezzo

Toby Spence. Tenor

James Rutherford. Baritone A work closely associated with Birmingham for 112 years

[EnemyoftheStoat]

LIVE from Birmingham's Symphony Hall at 7.30pm on Thurday 12th April

City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Andris Nelsons

Sarah Connolly. Mezzo

Toby Spence. Tenor

James Rutherford. Baritone A work closely associated with Birmingham for 112 years

Ahem.

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?4996-Edward-Gardner-repeats-Gerontius-on-Radio-Three

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Oh. Give me a moment or two and I'll merge them.

[salymap]

Oh. Give me a moment or two and I'll merge them.

Sorry, that comes of relying on the Radio Times. Mine could be deleted as everyone seems ill.

[BBMmk2]

Ah,another programme to catch up on iplayer!I have a curry/jamming session that evening!

[Chris Newman]

Gosh that was a nice long silence at the end!

The various instrumentals in the Prelude were exquisite. I won't say that this first CBSO performance of was as good as either of Ed Gardner's LPO performances because nervousness took hold particularly in Part One. Robert Murray has a beautiful instrument and can soar magnificently but there were moments of panic. Having heard EG conduct it twice before I think he more or less went along with things rather than cause more anxiety. I know RM was standing in for Toby Spence but would guess it was a one of his first public performances. He will soon be very fine in the role. In the first part he pushed forward at the ends of phrases meaning that the conductor and orchestra had to keep snatching at his coat-tail. James Rutherford was much more steady than I have ever heard him: he has a nice rich instrument but in the past his vibrato has seemed painful on the radio. Sarah Connolly took a minute or two to warm but I have to say that her Angel's Farewell made me damp eyed: a rival for Janet Baker.

[LeMartinPecheur]

CN - I agree about Connolly (well within range of Janet Baker's benchmarks IMO) but Robert Murray still has scope to climb in my estimation. Admittedly I only caught about half an hour at the close but at his final entry I thought for several bars that Connolly or some other mezzo was singing! Not the most masculine, heroic tone-colour methinks.

[maestro267]

Tonight was the first time I've heard Gerontius in full, so I don't really have much to compare it with as regards previous performances. I really enjoyed the music, the climax at the end of 'Praise God in the highest' being a particularly powerful moment, in addition to the conclusion of the work and the long silence.

[salymap]

I've listened to the first part so far and really enjoyed it. The tenor didn't seem quite right to me,brought up on Heddle Nash and Richard Lewis, but the orchestra and chorus seemed very good, especially in the beautiful Prelude. Looking forward to part 2 this afternoon.

[Osborn]

Tweet from Sarah Connolly:

'Thank you glorious CBSO and CBSO Chorus for being so inspiring. I have never heard such beautiful, lyrical soft singing and playing. xx'

[Pabmusic]

Tweet from Sarah Connolly:

'Thank you glorious CBSO and CBSO Chorus for being so inspiring. I have never heard such beautiful, lyrical soft singing and playing. xx'

Very tweet. But it was a very good performance.

[salymap]

If tweets were called something else I might be able to take them more seriously, but the thought of some musicians 'tweeting' after a performance makes me laugh- no reflexion on SC intended.

[Chris Newman]

Tonight was the first time I've heard Gerontius in full, so I don't really have much to compare it with as regards previous performances. I really enjoyed the music, the climax at the end of 'Praise God in the highest' being a particularly powerful moment, in addition to the conclusion of the work and the long silence.

That you enjoyed the music is the important thing, maestro, so ignore my criticism.

[Nick Armstrong]

the climax at the end of 'Praise God in the highest' being a particularly powerful moment

I wasn't able to hear the performance last night beyond the first few moments (the orchestral introduction sounded marvellous, the tenor less so when he came in) but if you love that 'Praise to the Holiest in the Height" section, I earnestly recommend you to hear the recording of the work conducted by Benjamin Britten http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elgar-Dream-...4320721&sr=8-1 He conducts that choral climax with an ecstatic urgency which never fails to shiver my timbers. Once heard, never forgotten.