R J EAGLEN puts pen to paper in praise of a recent concert given by Bracknell and Wokingham singers.
He says: “Against the wonderful backdrop of Guildford Cathedral, Bracknell and Wokingham Choral Societies performed Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, widely regarded as his finest choral work.
“As Elgar himself described it: ’This is the best of me….. this, if anything of mine, is worth your memory.’
“With 200 singers, three phenomenal professional soloists, and the 60-piece British Sinfonietta orchestra, all underpinned by the Cathedral’s mighty organ played by Ben Giddens, this concert was a performance of epic proportions.”
The music of Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, is a setting of Cardinal Newman’s poem.
“The piece responds with heightened emotion when performed by such a large number of singers and musicians,” he continues.
“Wokingham conductor George de Voil directed the ensemble of the assured choir, instrumentalists and soloists to bring out the rich emotional intensity of this work with masterly skill.
“The stunning concert will have moved listeners in many and varied ways, with a superb performance from tenor Jonathan Cooke as Gerontius, the explosive entry of bass Patrick Keefe as the Priest, and the ethereal texture of the Angel, performed bymezzo soprano Felicity Buckland with a semichorus and harps.”
For information about both choirs, visit: wokingham-choral-society.org.uk and bracknellchoral.org.uk
