Prom 59: Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius (31.08.22)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30 Wednesday 31 August 2022
Royal Albert Hall

Edward 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.

[Prommer]

On my list for this year! Last seen/heard live at the St Endellion Festival at Easter 2013... with Mark Padmore, Pamela Helen Stephen and David Stout.

[Lordgeous]

Jamie Barton? Hmmm... I'll reserve judgement.

[Joe]

Grateful for advice on the printed programme. Does anyone know if it will have the text, please?. It's my first Dream and I need the crutch of the text even though it is in English. If the text is certain to be in the progamme I won't need to print it off beforehand. Thanks.

[Prommer]

Grateful for advice on the printed programme. Does anyone know if it will have the text, please?. It's my first Dream and I need the crutch of the text even though it is in English. If the text is certain to be in the progamme I won't need to print it off beforehand. Thanks.

Pre-Covid, yes... not sure if they do this now or if all digital?

[Petrushka]

Grateful for advice on the printed programme. Does anyone know if it will have the text, please?. It's my first Dream and I need the crutch of the text even though it is in English. If the text is certain to be in the progamme I won't need to print it off beforehand. Thanks.

I went to the LSO/Rattle Mahler 2 last week and the text was in the printed programme just as usual. I see no reason why the text shouldn't also be in the programme tomorrow night. I've attended a number of previous Dreams in past seasons and all have had the text included.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Pre-Covid, yes... not sure if they do this now or if all digital?

https://www.classicfm.com/composers/elgar/guides/dream-gerontius-complete-text/

[Joe]

I went to the LSO/Rattle Mahler 2 last week and the text was in the printed programme just as usual. I see no reason why the text shouldn't also be in the programme tomorrow night. I've attended a number of previous Dreams in past seasons and all have had the text included.

Thanks. That's very helpful.

[Simon B]

Clayton was extraordinary when he sung this with Elder/LSO a few years ago. Hopefully a repeat about to occur...

[jonfan]

Part One is sounding fantastic with Allan Clayton on tremendous form. Choir and orchestra excellent with Gardner giving the piece a very devotional feel and allowing Elgar's music to breathe. I'm enjoying it greatly with very good balance between orchestra, semi-chorus and full chorus.

[Alison]

Part One is sounding fantastic with Allan Clayton on tremendous form. Choir and orchestra excellent with Gardner giving the piece a very devotional feel and allowing Elgar's music to breathe. I'm enjoying it greatly with very good balance between orchestra, semi-chorus and full chorus.

This is going wonderfully well :-)

Does any other musical work have quite so many spine tingling moments?

[edashtav]

Part One is sounding fantastic with Allan Clayton on tremendous form. Choir and orchestra excellent with Gardner giving the piece a very devotional feel and allowing Elgar's music to breathe. I'm enjoying it greatly with very good balance between orchestra, semi-chorus and full chorus.

The first half was superb, perhaps the best live performance of the work that I have heard very often, with Allan Clayton a commanding presence , and so dramatic.

I’m writing this after the Angel’s first entrance and for all of her excellence, range and poweras a singer I’m yet to be convinced that Jamie Barton fully inhabits the role.

The LPO, the two Choirs and conductor, Edward Gardner, are magnificent, tonight.

[oddoneout]

I found that a deeply satisfying performance, with everything in balance and so clear. I don't know about JB inhabiting the role, I just thought her voice was so right - reminded me of the other JB, Janet Baker.
The only thing I would criticise was that the demons were far too polite - when I rehearsed this as a choir member we were told to snarl to convey menace.
I was lucky enough to play this several times back in my youth and it brings back so many memories, often tinged with sadness for those no longer alive but tonight just joy at the music and having had that experience. Ironically I've never sung it in a concert - I went all through a term's rehearsals at college but then couldn't make the performance - but the voice parts are still there in the memory banks.

[Nick Armstrong]

Part One is sounding fantastic with Allan Clayton on tremendous form. Choir and orchestra excellent with Gardner giving the piece a very devotional feel and allowing Elgar's music to breathe. I'm enjoying it greatly with very good balance between orchestra, semi-chorus and full chorus.

Yes, the sections I’ve managed to hear seemed to be magnificently balanced, a riveting and immediate performance done full justice by the quality of the broadcast. (Haven’t caught any of the bass’s sections yet).

I was invited to attend (sadly I’m in the wrong place at the wrong time ) as an old school friend (and member here) was in the chorus. I hope he’ll read this and give some performer’s-eye/ear comments.

[jonfan]

Well that was one of the finest performances I've heard of the piece, either live or on record. As Martin Handley said, a piece made for the RAH. The choir was superb with all the details clearly heard, even the softest utterances of the semi-chorus. I thought Jamie Barton gave a very personal take on the role with a warm, rich sound. She took the soul to heaven at the end with great joy and a sense of achievement of purpose. James Platt was commanding as the Priest and Angel of the Agony. Three perfect soloists ideally suited. The 'Praise to the Holiest' sequence scampered through a bit quickly for my taste but Gardner's command of the whole work was masterly with a performance to treasure. The few seconds of silence at the end indicated the audience felt so too.