2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Trish Lee)
Newbury Choral Society: Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius at Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton On Saturday, April 12 Review by Rev Alex Austin OSB Gerontius is an extremely ambitious work for an amateur choir to sing but the Newbury Choral Society did with great success in a remarkable performance. The work is Elgar’s setting of a text by St John Henry Newman and is his great choral masterpiece. It tells the story of the christian’s journey through death to judgement and rebirth in the next world.
Joe Tobin, the musical director and conductor told the story and held everything together brilliantly with a total understanding of the music and superb pacing and volume. It was all deeply felt and delivered with devotion and reverence. The choir sang really well throughout and with great variety from the exquisitely quiet entry of the first kyrie to the rousing conclusion of part one from the Catholic last rites – Proficiscere when the priest sends the soul to the next world.
The demonic hubub of the demon’s chorus was different again as was the glorious Praise to the Holiest and the gentle serenity of the final psalm of the soul’s in purgatory. The small professional orchestra accompanied them superbly with a wonderfully full sound and some particularly fine horn playing. The opening prelude was outstanding and truly profound.
The real stars of the show were the spectacular young soloists, all outstanding. Michael Bell, tenor, sang Gerontius. His beautifully lyrical, dramatic and expressive voice was perfect for the role, a convincing vocal actor with extraordinary emotional range and stamina.
Bass soloist was Alex Bower Brown who stood in at the last minute was another glorious voice. His magnificent magnificent entry Profisiscere was breathtaking, his Angel of the Agony impassioned and his final line “to that glorious home where they shall ever gaze on thee” was sung with the most delicate tenderness. Emily Hodgkinson, the soprano Angel had an angelic voice - warm, gentle, joyful and comforting, the guardian accompanying the soul in it’s journey to judgement and bringing him safely to heaven’s gate where Almighty God invites us all.
The final rapturous applause was fully justified for this sublime performance of a sublime work..
