A performance of Edward Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius will take place at the Sage Gateshead on Sunday February 26 at 5pm. 
The words, written by St John Henry Newman, tell the moving story of the death of a man of faith, the journey of his soul in the company of his guardian angel, an encounter with the demons of hell and his meeting, for a moment, with God.

Cleveland Philharmonic Choir and Durham University Choral Society join forces to form a 200-strong choir, taking the roles of friends of Gerontius praying for his soul, the sneering demons and angels around the throne of God. 
The excellent Mowbray Orchestra, which selects musicians from all over the north, partners the singers. The conductor is the outstanding choral trainer, John Forsyth MBE, who is the director of both choirs.

Tenor Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts sings the role of Gerontius, with mezzo-soprano Anna Huntley as the Angel. Morgan Pearse takes the two commanding baritone roles of the Priest and the Angel of the Agony. 
These soloists have been chosen for the thought they put into their performances and the reverence and drama of the work are in safe hands.

Tickets are priced £22 for adults and £10 for students (plus booking fee) and are now on sale from sagegateshead.com/whats-on/elgar-the-dream-of-gerontius.
To book coach tickets from Teesside, visit clevelandphilharmonicchoir.com/concerts.

This great work is rarely performed in this region, so an opportunity to experience it is to be treasured. 
As Elgar wrote on the last page of the score: “This is the best of me… this, if anything of mine, is worth your memory.”