News

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Gabrieli’s 2023 The Dream of Gerontius recording has won this year’s Gramophone Classical Music Award, in the Choral category.

This recording of Elgar’s much-loved oratorio used original instruments from around the time of its 1900 premiere and features tenor Nicky Spence in the title role. The disc was warmly received by critics on its release in April 2024, and we learned in August that it had been shortlisted for this award. Category winners were revealed on 2nd October at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards ceremony at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London.

Gabrieli is proud to count The Dream of Gerontius among its award-winning recordings that also includes Purcell’s King Arthur, Berlioz’s Grande Messe des morts, Britten’s War Requiem and Mendelssohn’s Elijah.

 

“It’s deeply satisfying to win this award; a piece I adore, and a huge labour of love for all at Gabrieli to make it happen. I’m hugely aware of the legacy of recordings of this profoundly English work and honoured to be part of the pantheon.

But most of all I’m glowing with ‘paternal’ pride for the almost a hundred young people who were part of the chorus, one that was universally praised as outstanding in every review.  They came from all over the UK including many who simply haven’t had the musical opportunities that the privileged take for granted.  Living proof that we should never doubt the capacity of the next generation to be inspired by great art, if only we give them the chance.”

~ a message from Paul McCreesh

 

In this free digital edition, Gramophone reveal the 66 recordings (six in each of the 11 recording categories) that were shortlisted this year, including the original Gramophone reviews for each recording. The Shortlist was further reduced to three albums per category in the October issue of Gramophone, where you will find a link to buy or stream the album with Presto Music.

Read more about the album on our website here: Elgar Dream of Gerontius 1900

 

With special thanks to:

Nicky Spence (Gerontius)
Anna Stéphany (The Angel)
Andrew Foster-Williams (The Priest/Angel of the Agony)

Paul McCreesh (conductor)

Polish National Youth Choir (Artistic Director: Agnieszka Frankow-Zelazny)
Members of Gabrieli Roar
Gabrieli Consort
Gabrieli Players

Charles MacDougall and Emily Dickens (Creative Directors of Gabrieli Roar)

Fairfield Halls

Signum Classics and Steve Long

Recording team: Nicholas Parker and Neil Hutchinson, who have worked with Gabrieli for decades, including on our other Gramophone Award-winning disc, A New Venetian Coronation.

 

McCreesh brings an impressive control of contrasting tempos to the polyphonic, multicolour orchestration that forms such an intrinsic part of the work. […] This CD is brim-full of edifying delights and surprises worthy of repeated listening. Most of all, its expressive choral and orchestral merits, to quote the words of Newman’s angel, are such that it ‘will gladden thee, but it will pierce thee too’.

~GRAMOPHONE (read the full review by following the link above)

★★★★ This is not just another recording of Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius […] conductor Paul McCreesh has again delivered a splendid recording of special interest.

~THE FINANCIAL TIMES

Paul McCreesh conducts the work very well indeed. Nicky Spence is outstanding as Gerontius and gives one of the finest performances of Gerontius on disc.

~MUSIC WEB INTERNATIONAL

Without wishing to denigrate the capabilities of modern instruments, the strings in McCreesh’s orchestra offer a delicacy of tone that is spellbinding.

~PRESTO MUSIC

★★★★★ Inspired by McCreesh and his professional support team, the choral singing is outstanding – fresh voiced, with clear diction and 100 per cent-plus commitment. What a life-changing experience this must have been for these young people.

~GRAMOPHONE, CHOIR & ORGAN

★★★★★ This is unquestionably a great recording of Gerontius, one that every Elgarian should have, and ranks high among the many important projects Gabrieli has so far undertaken in its four decades of existence.

~BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

★★★★★ The period instruments intensify the emotion and textural variety in Elgar’s writing here, and Spence, Stéphany and Foster-Williams are superb in the solo roles. McCreesh steers the ship with unerring focus. Above all the choirs guide the disc to greatness.

~THE SUNDAY TIMES