At the end of the score of The Dream of Gerontius, Elgar wrote: “This is the best of me.” This monumental work embodies Elgar’s spiritual and artistic ideals – it is as stirringly Romantic and grand as you’d expect, but it is also Elgar’s most personal utterance. Elgar poured his “heart’s blood” into Gerontius, responding to the words with evocative, sincere and imaginative music – imposing marches full of pomp and circumstance, choirs of demons and angels, and celestial harmonies – that takes us from earth to heaven. Elgar’s masterful choral writing celebrates the beauty and power of the voice in partnership with the orchestra.

A performance of The Dream of Gerontius is a major event for performers and audiences alike. In this case, the virtuosic young musicians of The Sydney Youth Orchestra join the massed forces of the Festival Chorus and celebrated vocalists Jacqueline Dark, Andrew Goodwin and José Carbo to contemplate a vast fresco of life and life everlasting.

ELGAR The Dream of Gerontius Op.38

Brett Weymark conductor
Jacqueline Dark mezzo soprano
Andrew Goodwin tenor
José Carbo baritone

Festival Chorus
The Sydney Youth Orchestra