Signum Classics
BBC Music Magazine Recording of the Month
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius / McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort
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Details
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Artist
- Nicky Spence, Andrew Foster-Williams, Anna Stephany, Gabrieli
- Format
- CD
- Discs
- 2
- Label
- Signum Classics
- Released
- Apr 26, 2024
- Catalog #
- SIGCD785
- UPC
- 635212078525
About
The Dream of Gerontius by Edward Elgar is a two-part work for voices and orchestra composed in 1900 to text by John Henry Newman. Widely regarded as Elgar's finest choral work, and by some his masterpiece, Gabrieli’s first-class performance, and McCreesh’s superb interpretation demonstrate why their recordings are seen as some of the best in classical music today.
REVIEW:
This strong performance is apparently the first to use historically appropriate instruments. The trombone, just to give the listener an idea, was owned by Elgar. Tenor Nicky Spence, in the lead role, offers a rich, serious performance. McCreesh’s interpretation focuses on the chorus, placing the work in the grand English oratorio tradition.
— AllMusic.com (James Manheim)
Critic reviews
“As conductor, McCreesh is both unobtrusive and highly effective, unfussily setting appropriate tempos and masterfully binding his large forces together in a common purpose.”
BBC Music Magazine, Recording of the month, June 2024
“Elgar’s mystic masterpiece under McCreesh becomes an astonishing sonic spectacular. Allied to the Elgarian soundscape McCreesh achieves in this recording is the remarkable acuity of the massed vocal forces that consist of the Gabrieli Consort, McCreesh’s youth choir Gabrieli Roar and the Polish…”
Limelight, Editor’s choice, July 2024
Show 4 more reviews
“A deeply moving journey through Elgar’s religious epic, from a conductor whose admiration of this music is evident in every bar, and a superb soloist in Nicky Spence.”
Gramophone, Editor’s choice, May 2024
“McCreesh’s overall conception does honor to Elgar, there’s some juice to the playing, the co-stars are more than adequate, and if you love the piece you’re going to want to hear Nicky Spence in the title role.”
American Record Guide, American record guide critics’ choice 2024, January 2025
“This is the first recording of Elgar’s great oratorio on period instruments; the instruments make a significant impression.”
MusicWeb International, Nominee for recording of the year, December 2024
“…this CD is brimful of edifying delights and surprises worthy of repeated listening. Most of all, its expressive choral and orchestral merits, to quote the words of Newman’s angel, are such that it ‘will gladden thee, but it will pierce thee too’.”
Gramophone Awards, Choral, September 2024
Tracklist 14 tracks
- Disc 1
-
1 Part I: Prelude 09:41
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Part I: Prelude
- Duration
- 09:41
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
-
2 Part I: Jesu, Maria. I am near to death (Gerontius, Chorus) 06:09
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Part I: Jesu, Maria. I am near to death (Gerontius, Chorus)
- Duration
- 06:09
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Nicky Spence
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Roar, Polish National Youth Choir, Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
-
3 Part I: Rouse thee, my fainting soul (Gerontius, Chorus) 03:57
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Part I: Rouse thee, my fainting soul (Gerontius, Chorus)
- Duration
- 03:57
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Nicky Spence
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Roar, Polish National Youth Choir, Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
-
4 Part I: Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus (Gerontius) 07:30
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part I: Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus (Gerontius)
- Duration
- 07:30
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Nicky Spence
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
-
5 Part I: Rescue him, O Lord (Chorus, Gerontius) 03:26
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part I: Rescue him, O Lord (Chorus, Gerontius)
- Duration
- 03:26
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Nicky Spence
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Roar, Polish National Youth Choir, Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
-
6 Part I: Profiscere, anima Christiana (Priest, Chorus) 05:56
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part I: Profiscere, anima Christiana (Priest, Chorus)
- Duration
- 05:56
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Andrew Foster-Williams
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Roar, Polish National Youth Choir, Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
- Disc 2
-
1 Part II: I went to sleep (Soul of Gerontius, Angel) 14:54
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Part II: I went to sleep (Soul of Gerontius, Angel)
- Duration
- 14:54
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Nicky Spence, Anna Stéphany
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
-
2 Part II: But hark! A grand mysterious harmony (Soul of Gerontius, Angel, Chorus) 05:24
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Part II: But hark! A grand mysterious harmony (Soul of Gerontius, Angel, Chorus)
- Duration
- 05:24
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Nicky Spence, Anna Stéphany
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Roar, Polish National Youth Choir, Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
-
3 Part II: I see not those false spirits (Soul of Gerontius, Angel) 03:29
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Part II: I see not those false spirits (Soul of Gerontius, Angel)
- Duration
- 03:29
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Nicky Spence, Anna Stéphany
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
-
4 Part II: Praise to the Holiest in the height (Chorus, Angel, Soul of Gerontius) 12:33
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part II: Praise to the Holiest in the height (Chorus, Angel, Soul of Gerontius)
- Duration
- 12:33
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Anna Stéphany, Nicky Spence
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Roar, Polish National Youth Choir, Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
-
5 Part II: Thy judgement now is near (Angel, Soul of Gerontius) 03:09
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part II: Thy judgement now is near (Angel, Soul of Gerontius)
- Duration
- 03:09
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Anna Stéphany, Nicky Spence
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
-
6 Part II: Jesu! By that shuddering dread (Angel of the Agony) 03:48
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part II: Jesu! By that shuddering dread (Angel of the Agony)
- Duration
- 03:48
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Andrew Foster-Williams
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
-
7 Part II: I go before my Judge (Soul of Gerontius, Chorus, Angel) 06:18
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Part II: I go before my Judge (Soul of Gerontius, Chorus, Angel)
- Duration
- 06:18
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Nicky Spence, Anna Stéphany
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Roar, Polish National Youth Choir, Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh
-
8 Part II: Lord, Thou hast been our refuge (Chorus, Angel) 08:56
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Part II: Lord, Thou hast been our refuge (Chorus, Angel)
- Duration
- 08:56
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Performer
- Anna Stéphany
- Ensemble
- Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Roar, Polish National Youth Choir, Gabrieli Players
- Conductor
- Paul McCreesh