Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius would certainly deserve a place in a top 5 of best oratorios. Elgar's masterpiece is probably the least known of the top, at least outside of Britain. This is a pity. Gerontius may miss the triumph of Handels The Messiah or Haydn's Die Schöpfung. However, it is precisely in its most intimate moments that Elgar's masterpiece is completely honest and sincere. Just listen
… to the tender farewell scene ('Softly and gently, dearly-ransom'd soul') with which this work almost fizzles out. Fortunately, there is no shortage of good performances of this oratorio. Sargent's historical recordings are still recommended, despite the mono quality. Of the Dutch conductors, both Edo de Waart and Jaap van Zweden have ventured into this pre-eminently British work. More recently, the one with Mark Elder in particular stands out (he also recorded Elgar's other oratorios). This new double-sacd with Andrew Davis also deserves attention. Here he conducts his old and trusted BBC Symphony Orchestra, of which he is currently the Conductor Laureate. He is also chief conductor of both the Lyric Opera in Chicago and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. (HJ)more