Elgar: Dream of Gerontius

Nottingham Festival Chorus
Albert Hall, Nottingham
Saturday 5th February 2011
By Peter Palmer

EDWARD Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius features the spiritual subject-matter of a traditional oratorio but treats it in a most unconventional way.
   Drawing on all the resources of late-romantic harmony, Elgar created a work of ever shifting moods to match the texts by John Henry Newman. The whole drama is played out in the mind of Gerontius, the large choir voicing the parts of companions, angels and demons.
   One mood flows into another; many nuances of pulse, dynamics and tone colour are needed. And they were supplied in full measure by Nottingham Festival Chorus and the East of England Singers under conductor James Lowe's inspirational guidance.
   From an atmospheric prelude to thrilling climaxes, the Nottingham Concert Orchestra – augmented by Roger Bryan at the Binns pipe organ – provided vital support at every stage.
   As Gerontius, solo tenor Stephen Rooke injected virile emotion into the narratives of a worldly man on his final journey to the unknown. Mezzo-soprano Polly May's noble Angel shone in their lyrical exchanges and tender duet.
   George van Bergen doubled powerfully as a Priest in Part 1 and the second part's Angel of the Agony. From first to last, the pathos of Elgar's melodies was given its strikingly personal stamp.    
   Realistically, you might think, author and composer present no big, brassy ending to the journey, but the closing bars brimmed over with hope. Music for Everyone can add this performance to a growing list of artistic achievements.