Live recording of Elgar’s last oratorio, taken from the acclaimed 2009 performance at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

With a text by the composer, and music which is at turns lyrical, mystical and magical, The Kingdom is ecstatic in its glorious choral depiction of the events following Pentecost, when the Apostles began their work for the Church in Jerusalem.

This is the latest release in Elder and Halle’s renowned Elgar series and was recorded live at a sell out Bridgewater Hall concert in October 2009.

The recording features leading British soloists who are closely associated with Elder and Hallé and they powerfully convey the expressive range of Elgar’s writing for voices in The Kingdom which is one of the work’s greatest glories.

A previous Hallé choral release The Dream of Gerontius (CD HLD 7520) won Best Choral recording in the Classic fm Gramophone Awards 2009 and the Hallé Choir under Elder is perfectly suited to the choral writing in The Kingdom which is arguably even finer than that in Gerontius, playing a more significant role in the design of the oratorio

Recent Hallé releases are finalists in 2010 Classic FM Gramophone Awards:

• Wagner Gotterdammerung (HLD 7525) finalist opera category
• Elgar Violin Concerto/Zehetmair (HLL 7521) finalist concerto category

The recording was made live at a concert in The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on 17^th October 2009.

“Right from the start of the Jerusalem Prelude the musicians displayed real urgency and that supple response to every orchestral thrust and sigh that only committed Elgarians such as the Hallé can command... nothing budged the wonderful glow of the Hallé sound, the orchestra’s mastery of Elgar’s moods — from full Edwardian regalia to delicately scored rapture — or Elder’s endless understanding of the composer’s heart and soul.” The Times

Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2011 - Choral

Conductor
Sir Mark Elder

Soloists/Artists
Claire Rutter, Soprano - The Blessed Virgin Mary
Susan Bickley, Mezzo-soprano - Mary Magdalene
John Hudson, Tenor - St. John
Iain Paterson, Baritone - St. Peter

Chorus
Hallé Choir (Tom Seligman Guest Choral Director)

Catalogue number CD HLD 7526

Preview: https://orcd.co/p56lkxb