The Dream of Gerontius
Sunday, May 12, 2024, at 3:00 pm The Bradley Symphony Center 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. | Milwaukee, WI See for yourself why The Dream of Gerontius is considered Edward Elgar’s finest composition. A monumental work that has been hand selected for Music Director Richard Hynson’s farewell performance, the richly orchestrated score contains some of Elgar’s most powerful, evocative choral writing. Featured guest soloists include Clara Osowski (mezzo-soprano), Nicholas Huff (tenor), and Leo Radosavljevic (baritone). Run time: app. 2 hours (including a 20 minute intermission) |
A Message from Music Director Rick Hynson
Programming has always been one of my favorite parts of being a music director. When I arrived in Milwaukee in 1988, there were two large choruses in town: Bel Canto and the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus. In order to establish a distinct presence for Bel Canto, I chose to avoid the standard choral-orchestral pieces that the MSO and chorus were performing. Instead, I made the performance of new and unusual works a centerpiece of Bel Canto’s mission.
Sir Edward Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius was a perfect example of such a work. While Elgar is considered one of Britain’s greatest composers and this work to be one of his finest, The Dream had not been performed in Milwaukee for many years. So, we performed it at the Pabst Theater in October of 1990, for the beginning of my third season as music director.
When it came time to pick the music for my final concert with Bel Canto, I remembered how powerful and meaningful that early performance had been. Since this piece is the story of Gerontius (which in Latin means “old man”), it seemed fitting that I, as a “gerontius” myself, would complete my career with Bel Canto by performing this work again.
The work tells the story of Gerontius, a devout Catholic like Elgar, who dies in the First Part of the piece, and then is delivered to the throne of God by his Guardian Angel in the Second Part.
Sir Edward Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius was a perfect example of such a work. While Elgar is considered one of Britain’s greatest composers and this work to be one of his finest, The Dream had not been performed in Milwaukee for many years. So, we performed it at the Pabst Theater in October of 1990, for the beginning of my third season as music director.
When it came time to pick the music for my final concert with Bel Canto, I remembered how powerful and meaningful that early performance had been. Since this piece is the story of Gerontius (which in Latin means “old man”), it seemed fitting that I, as a “gerontius” myself, would complete my career with Bel Canto by performing this work again.
The work tells the story of Gerontius, a devout Catholic like Elgar, who dies in the First Part of the piece, and then is delivered to the throne of God by his Guardian Angel in the Second Part.
Meet Our Soloists
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