It seems like an extraordinary boon to have a second very fine recording of The Dream of Gerontius in less than two years. Paul McCreesh’s blockbuster recording with his Gabrieli forces lit up last year’s new releases and hot on its heels comes this live recording from the 2022 Proms with the London Philharmonic under Edward Gardner, who has been receiving numerous accolades for his work with that orchestra. 

Gardner’s experience as a boy chorister at Gloucester Cathedral and then as a choral scholar at King’s College Cambridge stands him in good stead to manage the choral complexities of Gerontius. Allied with his orchestral skills, he produces a reading of great energy and conviction.

The chief glory of this account is the evenly matched lineup of distinguished soloists. Tenor Allan Clayton is at the height of his vocal and artistic powers, deploying his rich, refulgent tone to great effect. If anything, he is too healthy a Gerontius – less an old man on his death bed with “falt’ring breath” than an intrepid pilgrim eager to see what lies beyond...