Originally, "The Apostles" was conceived as the first part of a trilogy, with the second part becoming "The Kingdom" in 1906, and the rest of the grand scheme remaining unfinished.
Compositional Technique
The music of "The Apostles" is built upon a network of leitmotives, which Elgar used to clarify the interdependence of the words and portray each personality in a musical dress.
Composer Biography
Elgar's status as a composer of national importance was established by the success of his 'Enigma' Variations in 1899.
Critical Reception
The premiere of "The Apostles" in 1903 left the audience spellbound, with the Manchester Guardian hailing Elgar as "one of the great originals in the musical world of today."
Composition History
Elgar had been contemplating the oratorio "The Apostles" since boyhood, selecting words for many years before its first performance in 1903.
Performer Biography
Richard Hickox, the conductor of this recording, was a highly gifted and versatile British conductor who founded the City of London Sinfonia and made over 280 recordings, earning a Grammy and five Gramophone Awards.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Elgar compiled the libretto for "The Apostles" himself from the New Testament and the Apocrypha, reflecting his deep concern for theological truth and dramatic sense.
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