SOLOISTS SET TO JOIN LOCAL CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA FOR CATHEDRAL PERFORMANCE

Three of the UK's most highly acclaimed classical singers are heading to Chester for a performance of a major classical work which is set to be staged at Chester Cathedral.

The ambitious collaboration which promises to be a highlight of the Chester concert season, will see international acclaimed guest soloists Tenor Joshua Ellicott, Mezzo Soprano Kathryn Rudge, Bass James Platt joining Chester Bach Singers and Chester Philharmonic Orchestra along with Cantiones Choir from Oswestry, to stage Edward Elgar's iconic 'Dream of Gerontius" at the Cathedral on Saturday 2^nd March at 7.30pm. The performance will be conducted by renowned Shropshire based conductor and composer Martin Bussey. 

Born in Manchester, the British tenor Joshua Ellicott kick started his career in 2006 by winning the majority of the prizes at the prestigious International Vocal Concours in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.  Since then he has continued to further his career in many directions, taking in the varied fields of opera, concert and song in music from across the centuries - even to the present day, to works written with his voice in mind.

Mezzo soprano Kathryn Rudge from Liverpool has been named as The Times ‘Rising Star of Classical Music and ‘One of Britain’s brightest young mezzos’ (What’s On Stage). Kathryn was a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist (2015-17), English National Opera (ENO) Harewood Artist, YCAT Artist and she is an Associate Member of the Royal Northern College of Music where she studied voice with Susan Roper (2004-11) and Junior RNCM (2002-04). Kathryn is the recipient of numerous awards including; Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Award, BBC Education Bursary, The Joaninah Trust Award, Kathleen Ferrier Society Bursary; Joyce Budd Award, Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal and the Joyce and Michael Kennedy Award for the Singing of Richard Strauss.

Kathryn made her operatic debut as Cherubino in Fiona Shaw’s new production of Mozart’s ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ (ENO 2012) and has since performed in principal opera roles including; Rosina in Jonathan Miller’s production of Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’ (ENO), Cherubino ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ Glyndebourne on Tour, Dorabella in Mozart’s ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’ Garsington Opera, Zerlina Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’, Hermia in Britten’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ Sesto Handel’s ‘Guilio Cesare,’ Annio in Mozart’s ‘La Clemenza di Tito’ for Opera North. Kathryn made her BBC Proms debut in 2016 in Rossini’s ‘Petite Messe Solennelle’ at Old Royal Naval Chapel in Greenwich. She returned to the Proms in 2019 performing Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ at Royal Albert Hall with BBC NOW conducted by Nathalie Stutzmann (BBC4). 

British bass James Platt studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He was a member of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House. He was both a finalist in the GSMD’s Gold Medal Competition and was awarded the Silver Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He also won the Richard Van Allan Prize and the Independent Opera Scholarship. Recent engagements include King of Egypt in Aida (Royal Opera House), Father Trulove in The Rake’s Progress (Maggio Musicale Fiorentino) and Farář and Jezevec in The Cunning Little Vixen (Omroep Muziek).

Composed by Elgar in 1900, The Dream of Gerontius is a work for voices and orchestra which sets the text of the poem by Cardinal John Henry Newman to music. It relates the journey of a pious man's soul from his deathbed to his judgment before God and settling into Purgatory. Elgar disapproved of the use of the term "oratorio" for the work although his wishes are not always followed. Formed in two parts each of which are made up of several distinct sections, the piece is widely regarded as Elgar's finest choral work, and some consider it his masterpiece. It is widely performed by Choral groups and has long been regarded an essential part of any classical choir's repertoire along with Handel's Messiah and Mendelssohn's Elijah.

Full details of The Dream of Gerontius can be found at: 

www.chestercathedral.com 

...where tickets can be booked online.

Tickets can also be booked in person at Chester Cathedral.

Pictured - Chester Bach Singers.