About The Dream of Gerontius
Dame Sarah Connolly mezzo soprano
Nicky Spence tenor
Neal Davies bass
Three Choirs Festival Chorus
Philharmonia Orchestra
Geraint Bowen conductor
JS Bach arr. Elgar Fantasia and Fugue in C minor 9'
Elgar The Dream of Gerontius 100'
‘Go forth upon thy journey, Christian soul’ – John Henry Newman
Elgar’s incredible The Dream of Gerontius, considered by many to be his greatest work, ends our festival week. A setting of a poem by John Henry Newman, the work tells the story of a soul’s journey through death, glimpsing God in judgement and settling into Purgatory, with a final blessing and promise of a re-awakening to glory. Deeply felt and highly moving, Elgar’s beautiful music is full of love, compassion and serenity. Of the piece, he wrote: ʻThis is the best of me … this I saw and knew … this is worth your memoryʼ.
Concert supported by the Perry Family Trust
The Dream of Gerontius supported in memory of Terry Moore who loved the festival
