56 

CHORAL CONCERT. 
“THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS.” 
(Elgar). 
T. G. CRUMP, M.B. 4th April, 1905. 

The Club, with conspicuous success, made its debut to the 
public, as a musical entrepreneur, when a chorus of some 
100 voices, assisted by the Halle Orchestra, gave Sir Hdward 
Elgar’s setting to music of the late Cardinal Newman’s 
exquisite poem, ‘‘The Dream of Gerontius.” Dr. Crump, in 
undertaking the role of conductor, showed a boldness and an 
intrepidity which were commendable, not only because of the 
character of the work, but also as a conductor he figured in an 
absolutely new capacity before the public. For Dr. Elgar’s 
creation he has the greatest love and admiration, and during the 
period it has been under rehearsal he has evinced the greatest 
enthusiasm for it, and has journeyed to different parts of the 
country in order to hear it rendered. 
The principal solo parts were entrusted to Madame Agnes 
Paddon, Mr. John Coates, and Mr. Herbert Brown. ‘There was 
a semi-chorus composed of the cream of the chorus, and which 
consisted of Misses A. Clegg, J. O’Malley and EH. Wood, 
sopranos; Misses Maudsley, K. M. Walton, and Wills, contraltos ; 
Messrs. L. J. Baldwin and R. Fox, tenors; and Messrs. T. N. 
Dutton and A. Newell, basses. 
The bright vocal star of the evening, who shone with peculiar 
lustre, was Mr. Coates, who, in the role of ‘‘ Gerontius”’ in the 
first part of the work, and that of ‘‘ The Soul of Gerontius ’’ in 
the second, acquitted himself in a manner which stamped him as 
a true artiste. Nothing could have been more passionate and 
full of art than his singing. ‘To him was allotted the major 
portion of the solo work. His enunciation and dramatic style 
were admirable. ‘‘ Jesu, Maria,—I am near to Thee,’”’ was given 
with great tenderness and depth of feeling. Perhaps his best 
effort was *‘ Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus,” in which his great 
powers of declamation were displayed, and in which piece a good 
effect was obtained by a tremolo on the violins, and also by sume 
fine crescendos and an unusual combination of instruments. 
