ELGAR: THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS, OP. 38 - COLIN DAVIS, LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (2 CDS)

“a deeply felt, thoughtful and, where needed, highly dramatic interpretation of an indisputable masterpiece.” 

“orchestral textures were sensuously coloured, and the vast symphonic structure flawlessly paced and handled. The choral singing, thrilling in its immediacy and clarity, can only be described as electrifying from start to finish” (The Guardian) “For Davis Elgar is a European composer, and the links to Wagner are clear … Davis is the star: guiding shaping, enhancing the beauty and the flow.” (The Times) “so magical is Davis’s phrasing that there are times that one dare not breathe for fear of breaking the spell.” (International Record Review)

London Symphony Orchestra &
Chorus / Sir Colin Davis

David Rendall (‘Soul’ tenor)
Anne Sofie von Otter (‘Angel’ mezzo)
& Alastair Miles (‘Priest’ bass)

Catalogue Number: ALC 1606
Number of Discs: 2
Runtime: 1:32:13

RECORDED: 2006

[Disc 1] [1] No. 1, Prelude to Part One 9:50
[2] No. 2, “Jesu, Maria – I Am Near to Death” 3:54
[3] No. 3, “Kyrie Eleison… Holy Mary, Pray for Him” 2:12
[4] No. 4, “Rouse Thee, My Fainting Soul” 0:51
[5] No. 5, “Be Merciful, Be Gracious” 2:51
[6] No. 6, “Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Deus” 4:47
[7] No. 7, “I Can No More” 2:05
[8] No. 8, “Rescue Him, O Lord” 2:10
[9] No. 9, “Novissima Hora Est” 1:19
[10] No. 10, “Profisciscere, Anima Christiana” 2:06
[11] No. 11, “Go, in the Name of Angels and Archangels” 4:29
[Disc 2] [1] No. 12, Prelude to Part Two 1:38
[2] No. 13, “I Went to Sleep” 3:54
[3] No. 14, “My Work is Done” 8:14
[4] No. 15, “Low-born Clods of Brute Earth” 2:03
[5] No. 16, “The Mind Bold and Independent” 2:23
[6] No. 17, “I See Not Those False Spirits” 3:01
[7] No. 18, “Praise to the Holiest” 3:12
[8] No. 19, “Glory to Him” 1:12
[9] No. 20, “But Hark! A Grand Mysterious Harmony” 0:42
[10] No. 21, “And Now the Threshold as we Traverse It” 0:35
[11] No. 22, “Praise to the Holiest in the Height” 6:51
[12] No. 23, “Thy Judgment is Now Near” 2:17
[13] No. 24, “Jesu! By that Shuddering Dread” 5:35
[14] No. 25, “Praise to His Name” 1:28
[15] No. 26, “Take Me Away” 3:13
[16] No. 27, “Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge” 1:02
[17] No. 28, “Softly and Gently, Dearly-ransomed Soul” 8:19