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Elgar's "The Kingdom" Finds Its Voice
17 Mar
Summary
- Elgar's oratorio "The Kingdom" explores the foundation of the Christian church.
- The performance featured the Oxford Bach Choir and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
- Soloists included Sophie Bevan, Ben Hulett, Catherine Wyn Rogers, and Gareth Brynmor John.
Edward Elgar's ambitious plan for a three-part choral triptych about the Christian church was left incomplete, with "The Kingdom" (1906) serving as the central, and only other, completed panel besides "The Apostles" (1903). This oratorio, often overshadowed by "The Dream of Gerontius," focuses on the aftermath of biblical events and the spread of Christian evangelism.
Despite its less dramatic subject matter, "The Kingdom" offers a unique invitation to listeners, mirroring their own experiences rather than demanding passive admiration. This was powerfully conveyed through a performance by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Oxford Bach Choir, conducted by Benjamin Nicholas, in Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre.
The Oxford Bach Choir, who Elgar himself had conducted in this very work in 1911, shone as the stars of the performance. Their flexible and meditative reading captured the oratorio's essence, supported by the substantial sound of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Soprano Sophie Bevan, tenor Ben Hulett, mezzo Catherine Wyn Rogers, and baritone Gareth Brynmor John provided strong vocal support.
