Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius

Himmel und Hölle - The Dream of Gerontius

While rarely performed in Germany, Edward Elgar's oratorio "The Dream of Gerontius" follows Handel's "Messiah" and Mendelssohn's "Elijah" in popularity in England. This masterpiece reveals the true essence of the English romanticist, known in Germany for the "Pomp and Circumstance" marches. The oratorio follows a soul's journey to Heaven, from death to angelic encounters, culminating in a vision of God's glory.

Himmel und Hölle - The Dream of Gerontius + Livestream

While rarely performed in Germany, Edward Elgar's oratorio "The Dream of Gerontius" follows Handel's "Messiah" and Mendelssohn's "Elijah" in popularity in England. This masterpiece reveals the true essence of the English romanticist, known in Germany for the "Pomp and Circumstance" marches. The oratorio follows a soul's journey to Heaven, from death to angelic encounters, culminating in a vision of God's glory.

Listen & Sing - Einblicke in Edward Elgars The Dream of Gerontius

"The Dream of Gerontius" by Edward Elgar is one of the most popular oratorios in England. The libretto comes from the pen of the English cardinal John Henry Newman, who describes the finiteness of human existence as a journey of the soul into the hereafter. A sacred Everyman, so to speak, and an unusual story for an oratorio full of moving choral moments. Why Edward Elgar himself gave this composition the highest priority in his work to date and why it is worth putting "The Dream of Gerontius" on the program more often here: You will find out both practically and theoretically in this event. Part 1 Host Christoph Vratz (WDR 3, Deutschlandfunk) talks to Cristian Măcelaru (conductor), Simon Halsey (choir director) and Markus Roentgen (theologian and musicologist) about Edward Elgar's "The Dream of Gerontius" Part 2 Singing with Simon Halsey - The renowned British choir director and Elgar expert sings excerpts from the oratorio with interested choral singers at the piano/organ: George Warren We would be delighted if you attended both parts of the event, but you can also only attend the first or second part (from 8 p.m.), just as you like.

Women of the Windrush

Abigail Kelly stars in Shirley J. Thompson’s one-woman, one-act opera which weaves together filmic documentary and song in a heart-warming love letter to the resilience of the Windrush settlers.

Bach's The Art of the Fugue

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Communal Concert of the Academies of the Concertgebouw Orchestra and the BRSO

For years Mariss Jansons was the principal conductor of both the BRSO and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra. If gifted young musicians from two academies now assemble in Munich for a concert, they do so in memory of this great conductor, who left an indelible imprint on both orchestras. Jansons had a firm commitment to talented young orchestral musicians, and the idea of the academy continues in his spirit, helping graduates to find their way into professional orchestras. Now, for the first time since their initial exchange of 2019, the two academies reunite in a concert that straddles the boundaries of Germany and the Netherlands. Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, George Benjamin’s modernist take on Purcell and Richard Strauss’s Suite from Der Bürger als Edelmann give these young musicians ample opportunity to display their prowess under the baton of Daniel Harding.

Ibn Battuta: The Traveller of Time

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Concert of laureates of the ARD International Competition in Munich

Classical Pride: Voices of Joy & Sorrow

A triumphant finale to 2025’s Classical Pride, as the London Symphony Orchestra and conductor Oliver Zeffman celebrate LGBTQ+ voices in classical music with a vibrant programme.