Edward Gardner brings a vibrant energy to his new recording of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius, infusing the iconic choral work with an operatic sense of drama and urgency. Recorded live at the 2022 BBC Proms, this performance is marked by outstanding vocal performances from Allan Clayton and Jamie Barton, who bring depth and nuance to their respective roles.
Clayton's portrayal of the dying man is particularly striking, conveying a sense of febrile terror that is both thrilling and heart-wrenching. His heroic tone in Sanctus Fortis is a highlight of the recording, while Barton's luxurious mezzo-soprano provides a rich tapestry of emotion throughout. James Platt's craggy bass brings gravity to his role as the Angel of the Agony.
Gardner's conducting is equally impressive, imbuing the work with an almost operatic boldness that propels the music forward with momentum. The combined forces of the London Philharmonic and Hallé choirs add a sense of drama and tension to the performance, conjuring up a chorus of demons at their heels.
If there's a drawback to this recording it's that the acoustic occasionally robs the sound of its last ounce of immediacy. However, this is a minor quibble in what is otherwise an outstanding achievement. Gardner's The Dream of Gerontius ranks alongside another notable release by Nicholas Collon earlier this year, and is sure to delight fans of Elgar's masterpiece.
Clayton's portrayal of the dying man is particularly striking, conveying a sense of febrile terror that is both thrilling and heart-wrenching. His heroic tone in Sanctus Fortis is a highlight of the recording, while Barton's luxurious mezzo-soprano provides a rich tapestry of emotion throughout. James Platt's craggy bass brings gravity to his role as the Angel of the Agony.
Gardner's conducting is equally impressive, imbuing the work with an almost operatic boldness that propels the music forward with momentum. The combined forces of the London Philharmonic and Hallé choirs add a sense of drama and tension to the performance, conjuring up a chorus of demons at their heels.
If there's a drawback to this recording it's that the acoustic occasionally robs the sound of its last ounce of immediacy. However, this is a minor quibble in what is otherwise an outstanding achievement. Gardner's The Dream of Gerontius ranks alongside another notable release by Nicholas Collon earlier this year, and is sure to delight fans of Elgar's masterpiece.
I'm totally obsessed with classical music lately! 
This new recording of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius is absolutely stunning! Edward Gardner really knows how to bring out the drama and emotion in the piece - it's like you're right there with Allan Clayton as he's experiencing his last moments. 
And can we talk about Jamie Barton's vocals? She's literally giving me all the feels every time she sings! 
James Platt's bass is so powerful too, adds this whole new level of depth to the performance. 
Allan Clayton's performance in Sanctus Fortis had me on the edge of my seat, his voice is like butter smooth but with just the right amount of grit to make it feel real 
! Edward Gardner really knows how to bring the drama out in this piece. Those soloists are on point too - Allan Clayton's performance as the dying man is giving me chills every time 
. And James Platt, his bass is so rich and deep it's like the angel of agony himself 
.
. I'm defo going to be listening to this one again and again 
. The vocals from Allan Clayton and Jamie Barton are insane, they're like two powerful instruments 
. And James Platt's bass is so deep and rich, it gives me chills every time 
. My only minor complaint would be that sometimes it feels a bit... distant? Like, I can hear the instruments, but they're not quite as close to me as I'd like 
. Still, that's a small price to pay for an album that's this good! 