Barbican Hall, Sunday 24 April 2016

Sir Mark Elder has a fine reputation for his Elgar interpretations and this was very much in evidence last night. If the tempi are often on the slow side, the phrasing and balance are exemplary, and when the choruses need to bite, they certainly do so.

Allan Clayton brings a clean, very English, voice to Gerontius himself, but to this is added a ringing heroic top which made Firmly I believe, and Take me away genuinely thrilling. His diction allows the text to have real impact, particularly in the second half where his encounters with the Angel were warmly human. There is little sense of pain or angst here, more of commitment and conviction. It was very moving.

Gerald Finley was equally moving as the Priest. If the voice is not the stentorian bass which we often hear, its warm baritone is more affective for its lighter tones. This was even more true of the intensity he brought to the Angel of the Agony.

Alice Coote has a real gift in being able to sing with the lightest of touches and yet be hear d over Elgar’s often dense orchestration. The opening of part two was delicate and personal, with no sense of triumphalism even in the more explosive alleluias. The Angel’s farewell was moving without every becoming sentimental. Together, the three voices brought us an interpretation based far more on hope and confidence than on pain and judgement. It was totally convincing.

The LSO chorus were in fine form, the dynamic changes made with ease and the text carrying well. They were joined by members of the Guildhall School Singers for some of the choruses, where the extra voices gave us even greater impact. The final bars of Praise to the Holiest seemed to go on into eternity.

The LSO know this work well but there was never any hint of this being just another performance.  Solo parts are always well found, and on this occasion the harps seemed to be even more important than usual at key moments.

There was no sign that this was being recorded. A pity – many could benefit from a reading of this intensity and joy.