‘The Leeds Philharmonic Society is the senior choir in the city by date of foundation and by virtue of its continued and very distinguished programme sustained annually since 1870.’
The Kingdom in Ely Cathedral
Press review Ely Cathedral, 30th November 2019: Cambridge University Symphony Orchestra, Leeds Philharmonic Chorus, Faust Chamber Orchestra and soloists: Eleanor Dennis (soprano), Jane Irwin (alto), Ed Lyon (tenor) and Gareth Brynmor John (bass) gave a fine concert on Saturday in Ely Cathedral. The work they performed was the relatively unknown ‘The Kingdom’ by Elgar. Conducted by David
The Kingdom at Leeds Town Hall
Press review Leeds Town Hall, Saturday 23rd November 2019: Sir Edward Elgar visualised his own devotional equivalent of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle. This would be a triptych of oratorios focussing on the life of the early Christian Church in Jerusalem. Accordingly, the Apostles and the Kingdom were premiered at Birmingham Town Hall in 1903 and 1906 respectively.
The Dream of Gerontius
Press review Leeds Town Hall, Saturday 1st June 2019: Cardinal John Henry Newman’s epic poem imagines the spiritual journey of Gerontius from deathbed to after-life. The text inspired Sir Edward Elgar to some of his most descriptive orchestral and vocal writing. Said Elgar at the time of the premiere at Birmingham Town Hall, on 3rd October 1900, ‘Gerontius
Dvorak’s Stabat Mater
Press review Leeds Town Hall, Saturday 16th March 2019: The 13th century Latin poem Stabat Mater (Sorrowful Mother) imagines the sorrow of Mary, Mother of the dying Jesus, during her vigil at the foot of his Cross. Of the many musical settings of the Stabat Mater, those by Rossini and Dvorak are constructed on the grandest scale.
Damnation at its most uplifting thanks to Berlioz and the Hallé
Press review Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Sunday 10th February 2019: Berlioz’s standing in Britain – long greater than in his native France – can only have been further bolstered by the Hallé’s uplifting account of The Damnation of Faust on Sunday evening. This extravagant ‘Dramatic Legend’ – performed here as part of the 150th-anniversary commemorations of the composer’s
The Damnation of Faust
Press review Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 10th February 2019: Freely adapted from Goethe, The Damnation of Faust insinuates, idles, roars, croons, swells, bores, hectors, fascinates and dazzles. Berlioz’s 1846 ‘légende dramatique’ is a gluttonous, garrulous, attention-seeking guest in any concert hall. Not quite an opera, it plays almost as cinema: zoom, pan, fade, jump-cut. For each sweet blade of