This new album of Elgar’s famous choral masterpiece ‘The Dream of Gerontius’ from Huddersfield Choral Society is optimally timed to coincide with major new film ‘The Choral’ which stars 3-time Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes. Set in 1916, the film, scripted by famous Yorkshire playwright Alan Bennett (‘History Boys’, ‘The Lady in the Van’) centres around a northern English choral society as they prepare to perform Elgar’s ‘Dream of Gerontius’ despite the challenges and losses of key singers fighting on the Western front. The story mirrors to a startling extent the choir featured on this new recording. 23 members of the real-life Huddersfield Choral Society enlisted and served in the Great War, during which there was indeed a celebrated performance of Elgar’s masterpiece, under the baton of no less than Sir Edward Elgar himself. ‘The Choral’ is both the name of the film and the nickname given to the Huddersfield Choral Society. This latest recording with Huddersfield Choral Society, The Orchestra of Opera North and Martyn Brabbins marks 80 years since the choir made the hugely successful first-ever recording of the work in 1945. This new recording could yet eclipse the others, aided by Fiennes and a host of acting talent including Simon Russell Beale.

Tracklisting:
CD 1
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 1
1. I. Prelude
2. IIa. Jesu, Maria, I Am Near to Death
3. IIb. Kyrie eleison
4. III. Rouse Thee, My Fainting Soul – Be Merciful, Be Gracious
5. IVa. Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus
6. IVb-d. I Can No More – Rescue Him, O Lord – Novissima hora est
7. V. Proficiscere, anima Christiana – Go, in the name of Angels and Archangels

CD 2
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2
1. Introduction
2. VIa-b. I Went to Sleep – Another Marvel
3. VIc. My Work Is Done, My Task Is O'er
4. VII. It Is a Member of That Family
5. VIIIa. But Hark! Upon my Sense Comes a Fierce Hubbub
6. VIIIb-d. Low-born Clods of Brute Earth – Dispossessed, Aside Thrust – The Mind Bold and Independent
7. IXa. I See Not Those False Spirits
8. IXb-d. There Was a Mortal Praise – Praise to the Holiest in the Height – Glory to Him
9. Xa-b. But Hark! A Grand Mysterious Harmony – And Now the Threshold as We Traverse It
10. Xc. Praise to the Holiest in the Height
11. XIa. Thy Judgement Now Is Near
12. XIb. Jesu! By That Shuddering Dread – XIIa. I Go Before My Judge
13. XIIb-d. Praise to His Name! – Take Me Away! – Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge
14. XIII. Softly and Gently "Angel's Farewell"