Description

 

COME AND SING ELGAR’S ‘THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS’!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Monday 27 May 2024

St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Pump Street, Worcester, WR1 2QT

 

Conductor: Stephen Shellard. Chorus Master, Elgar Festival & Director, Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir

Accompanist: Nicholas Freestone.  Assistant Director of Music, Worcester Cathedral

Love singing Elgar? This year the Elgar Festival is opening its doors to singers from all over the country for a day of rehearsals and informal performance of choruses from Elgar’s choral masterpiece ‘The Dream of Gerontius’. Widely regarded as one of Elgar’s finest and most thrilling works, The Dream of Gerontius is set to the poem by Cardinal John Henry Newman  that follows a dying man’s soul journeying to the judgement throne, led by his guardian angel. The chorus sections depict friends, priests, demons and angels along the way and provide a richly satisfying musical and vocal experience.

Led by the Elgar Festival’s chorus master Stephen Shellard and with accompaniment from Worcester Cathedral’s Nick Freestone, the day will focus on the following sections:

Part One – all choruses

Part Two – Figure 32 to 54, Figure 74 to 101 & Figure 125 to the end.

For those who would like to take this experience further then the full work will be performed at the 2025 Festival and anyone taking part in the 2024 Come and Sing will also be welcome to join the Elgar Festival Chorus of 2025.

SCORES/EXPERIENCE

Loan of a vocal score is included in the ticket price, but if you have your own you are very welcome to bring it – please indicate this on the form so we know for numbers.

Practice scores (Novello edition) can be downloaded from IMSLP here:

IMSLP378845-PMLP40537-EElgar_The_Dream_of_Gerontius,_Op.38_vocalscore_bw.pdf

And you can watch and hear here: Elgar – The Dream of Gerontius (Halle/Elder) (youtube.com)

Choral experience is not essential but an ability to read music would be helpful, and if you’re already familiar with the work then you’ll know what a great experience this will be!

SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY

9.30am            Arrival/registration/hello and score pick up
10.15am          Session 1
11.30am          Morning break
12pm               Session 2

1.15pm            Lunch

2pm                 Session 3
3.15pm            Afternoon break
4pm – 5pm      Informal performance to friends and family

REFRESHMENTS

Free tea, coffee, biscuits and cakes will be available during breaks. Please bring your own packed lunch or plan to eat nearby.

HOW TO FIND US

St Andrew’s is in a pedestrianised area just off Worcester High Street and near the Guildhall and Cathedral with full wheelchair access and a lift or stairs to all floors. There are several public car parks within a 5 min walk. Bus station and Foregate St train station are 15-20 mins walk

HOW TO BOOK

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

All places must be pre-booked. Closing date for applications is Mon 13 May 2024

Tickets: £20 (adults), including score hire, tea/coffee/cakes throughout the day

Under 18’s free but places still need to be booked and participants under 18s must be accompanied by an adult (also free, unless performing).

Current Elgar Festival Chorus members who require a discount code, and for any further enquiries please contact Helen outreach@elgarfestival.org