In The Dream of Gerontius, Elgar treats the orchestra as an essential part of the drama, not just an accompaniment, with an orchestral prelude portraying the story to come.
Composition History
August Jaeger, Elgar's editor at Novello & Co., significantly influenced the dramatic climax of The Dream of Gerontius, convincing Elgar to alter Gerontius's meeting with his maker.
Notable Performances
The 1900 premiere of The Dream of Gerontius suffered from insufficient rehearsal time and denominational prejudice, with the chorusmaster having little sympathy for Catholic imagery.
Composition History
Elgar's choice to set Saint John Henry Newman's Catholic poem, The Dream of Gerontius, was considered brave in a country where 'Papists' were a suspicious minority.
Recording & Production
This recording of The Dream of Gerontius was made for the BBC Proms on BBC Radio 3 on August 31, 2022, at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius is a deeply personal and introspective journey, contrasting with the confident faith of Haydn's The Creation.
Critical Reception
Despite a troubled premiere, discerning listeners recognized the originality of The Dream of Gerontius, leading to performances in Chicago, New York, and Germany, where Richard Strauss hailed Elgar.
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