Following success in the 2009 Classic FM Gramophone Awards the Hall and Sir Mark Elder return to the music of Elgar, coupling the much loved Violin Concerto with the Prelude to the lesser known oratorio The Kingdom and Elgars own arrangement of highlights from The Dream of Gerontius.

Violin Concerto: A stunning new interpretation of Elgars masterpiece from one of the worlds most dynamic violinists. The performance is alive with passion and dynamism, yet imbued with the beautiful poetry for which Elders interpretations of Elgar have been acclaimed.

Prelude to The Kingdom: Part of a planned trilogy of oratorios about the Apostles (which he never completed) The Kingdom was written in 1905 when Elgar underwent some spiritual crisis which shook his religious faith and he was also physically unwell. The music leaves an impression of lyrical tenderness and deep sadness.

Prelude and Angels Farewell from The Dream of Gerontius: Elgar responded to demands, particularly from the conductor Henry Wood, for extracts from Gerontius which could be performed as concert pieces, in the manner of Wagners Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde. Elgars solemn and elevating Prelude was an obvious choice for this treatment and, like Wagner, he then went to the end of the work and the point at which Gerontiuss guardian angel (mezzo-soprano) sings seraphically of how she will accompany him to the throne of God, bearing him softly and gently in her arms. When he worked on this arrangement at the end of 1900, Elgar removed the chorus lines and made the vocal part optional and he conducted it for orchestra only at Bradford on 16 February 1901. Four days later Wood conducted the first London performance (the first music by Elgar that he conducted) but included the vocal part, as on this recording.

Thomas Zehetmair is one of the most significant violinists of his generation. He enjoys a successful international career thrilling audiences and critics with his abilities as a soloist, chamber musician and conductor and has been the recipient of many international recording awards. He will be performing across Europe and America during Spring 2010.

Hall were winners of the 2009 Classic FM Gramophone Award for Best Choral Recording for their release of Elgars The Dream of Gerontius (HLD 7520)

These studio recordings were made in The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester in 2005 and 2008. Producer Andrew Keener; engineer Simon Eadon.

[the Halls] form under Mark Elder is rock solid, splendiferous in ensemble and tone; Id rather listen to them play English music than any other orchestra in the world. The Times

a towering performance of Elgars Violin Concerto with Thomas Zehetmair, a soloist of fierce intelligence. Unlocking the works volcanic emotions he certainly found the reflective tenderness. He and Elders taut yet flexible orchestra were at one in the visionary poetry of the finale, making this a performance of exceptional detail happily one that will appear on the orchestras own CD label. The Sunday Telegraph

Cootes performance is a marvel and perfectly nuanced throughout The Guardian

Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2010 – Concerto

SIR EDWARD ELGAR

Violin Concerto in B minor, Op.61
Prelude: The Kingdom Op.51
The Dream of Gerontius Op.38
– Prelude
– Angels Farewell * (Elgar’s revised version, without chorus)

Conductor
Sir Mark Elder

Soloists/Artists
Thomas Zehetmair, Violin
Alice Coote, Mezzo-soprano

Catalogue number CD HLL 7521