BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus 2017-18 Season Alice Coote performs Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius

Sir Edward Elgar’s strong Roman Catholic faith drew him to a text by Cardinal Newman which explores the journey of man’s soul through death, divine judgement and Purgatory. It contains some of his greatest music and caused Richard Strauss to raise a glass, saying ‘I drink to the success and welfare of the first English progressive musician, Meister Elgar’.

This performance brings together three of the work’s finest interpreters. The BBC Symphony Chorus and Orchestra won a Gramophone Choral Award in 2015 for their recording of Gerontius and are here directed by that passionate Elgarian, Sakari Oramo.