Is everything really over in the end? Or does it ascend into the light? In the oratorio »The Dream of Gerontius«, composer Edward Elgar translated these existential questions of humanity into highly emotional romantic music. He wrote beneath the work: »If anything of mine is worth remembering, it is this«. Indeed, anyone who hears Gerontius’ dramatic journey of the soul is unlikely to forget it anytime soon – neither the heartfelt moments of dialogue between the soul and the angel nor the frenzy of hellish demon choirs. In the end, the question remains: Is this what death is like? Or was it all just a dream?
Re-established after the end of the war in 1946, the Franz Schubert Chor Hamburg is now one of the largest and most renowned concert choirs in the Free and Hanseatic City. Around 100 active singers form the vocal potential of the mixed choir, whose repertoire includes both double-choir a cappella literature and modern choral symphonies. It has been conducted by Christiane Hrasky since 2009. The choir regularly performs at Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle, where it stages major choral works together with orchestras and soloists.
PERFORMERS
Franz-Schubert-Chor choir
Konzertchor der HfMT Hamburg choir
Mitglieder der Symphoniker Hamburg orchestra
Friederike Schorling mezzo-soprano
Richard Resch tenor
Johannes Schwarz baritone
Christiane Hrasky director
PROGRAM
Edward Elgar
The Dream of Gerontius für Mezzosopran, Tenor, Bass, Chor und Orchester op. 38
The concert takes place with an interval.
