Worcester Cathedral to host highlight of Elgar Festival

The Elgar Festival’s Gala Concert will once again be held in the beautiful surroundings of Worcester Cathedral later this month.

The event – which is at the heart of the festival – will take place on Saturday 31 May at 7.30pm, featuring the English Symphony Orchestra and the Elgar Festival Chorus alongside conductor Kenneth Woods and baritone Gareth Brynmor John.

The programme will include the world premiere of the orchestral version of Ian Venables ‘Out of the Shadows’, John Ireland’s ‘These Things Shall Be’ and Elgar’s ‘Symphony No 2.’

Written between the two Wars, Ireland’s ‘These Things Shall Be’ is a powerful expression of humanistic and enlightenment values, a faith in the agency of individuals and a pacifist worldview.

Ian Venables’ song cycle explores themes of love and sexuality through the poetry of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Ian said: “Although the cycle’s underlying narrative portrays the love of man for man, I wanted to end the work with a celebration of the universality of love and especially the deep love that is found in a long-lasting relationship. This is a love that transcends sexual categories and is at the heart of a humane world where gay people no longer need to hide in ‘the shadows.’”

Ian is the festival’s Featured Composer and widely regarded as the most successful living British composer of art songs.

Elgar’s ‘Second Symphony’ is one of his most powerful and personal works, a musical portrait of a man and a civilisation standing at a turning point in history.

Gareth Brynmor John studied at St John’s College, Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music where, in his final year, he won the Royal Academy of Music Patrons’ Award. He then studied at the National Opera Studio where he was supported by the Royal Opera House.

Kenneth Woods, Artistic Director of the Elgar Festival said: “The Gala Concert which is held in Worcester Cathedral every year is the pinnacle of the Elgar Festival and one that has a special place in so many peoples’ hearts.  It is a true celebration of both the festival and Elgar and is always a joyous celebration.  Come and join us!”

Tickets range in price from £12 to £30, with under 18s attending for free.  To book please visit www.elgarfestival.org/eso-gala-concert.

The 2025 Elgar Festival event takes place between Saturday 24 May until Sunday 1 June.

The festival – which was launched in 2018 – was established by decree of Worcester City Council and is traditionally held on the weekend closest to Elgar’s birthday, 2 June 1857.

Themed ‘Celebrate with Elgar’, this year’s Festival will bring together world-class professional musicians and artists alongside local choirs and ensembles placing the music of Worcester’s most famous son alongside that of his contemporaries and some of today’s leading composers and arrangers.

Set in the composer’s hometown and surrounding areas, the festival is an annual celebration of Elgar’s music spanning symphonic and string orchestra concerts.

Other highlights this year include performances by Chamber Orchestras, recitals by world renowned performers Raphael Wallfisch, David Briggs and April Fredrick, several participatory events including ‘Come and Play Elgar 1’ and a Young Singers Masterclass.

There are several free events, relaxed concerts, an exhibition, choral events, a film screening, Q and As, a guided walk and a new performance partnership with students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Since it began – lauded as ‘Critic’s Pick’ in both The Guardian and The Times – the festival has doubled in size and scale and championed Sir Edward to as wide an audience as possible. It continues to grow annually through an innovative development programme of appealing and accessible events, working with hundreds of both internationally renowned professional artists and amateur musicians and performers of all ages to ensure Elgar really is for everyone.

For a full list of events, costs and booking information, please visit www.elgarfestival.org.