2023 Founders' Day Concert

Composed roughly during the time The Cathedral of the Madeleine was being built, Sir Edward Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius is a dramatic setting of the 1865 poem written by recently canonized St. John Cardinal Henry Newman. Cardinal Newman’s poem reflects on the transition from life to life eternal, but expresses the thoughts and emotions not of a saint, priest or religious luminary, but rather those of an ordinary person. The music, which the composer identified as “…the best of me…” received its premiere in 1900 and features three soloists, two choirs, and a large orchestra. Tenor Christopher Oglesby will perform the role of Gerontius/Soul, Mezzo Soprano Heather Petrie will sing the part of the Guardian Angel, and Baritone Seth Keeton will perform as the Priest and the Angel present at Christ’s Agony. The Cathedral Choir and Orchestra are under the direction of New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine Director of Music, Kent Tritle.