Edward Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius (original version)

On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, it will take its audience on a deeply moving musical journey with Edward Elgar's monumental oratorio “The Dream of Gerontius.” Premiered in 1900, this masterpiece tells the story of the soul of the dying Gerontius, which is guided through heaven, purgatory, and divine judgment after death.
Elgar created music of overwhelming emotional power: from the desperate prayers of the dying man to the triumphant choirs of angels to the harrowing moments of divine encounter. The dramatic orchestral sounds, the haunting solo parts, and the powerful choral passages merge into a total work of art that stays with you forever. 

Performers include soloists Helena Köhne (soprano), Hans-Georg Priese (tenor), Haakon Schaub (bass), the Berlin Oratorio Choir, The English Choir Berlin (rehearsal director: William Peart), William Peart (organ), and the Brandenburg State Orchestra Frankfurt (BSOF) conducted by Thomas Hennig.


The Berlin Oratorio Choir – one of the oldest amateur choirs in the city
Since its founding in 1904, the Berlin Oratorio Choir – then known as the Berlin People's Choir – has made it its mission to perform both popular and lesser-known works of choral symphonic music in order to bring them to a wider audience. This type of repertoire is probably the most complex form of choral music, as it requires not only a large choir but also an orchestra, which in turn requires a sufficiently large stage and a corresponding number of seats for the paying audience. This means that every performance by the Berlin Oratorio Choir involves a great deal of organizational and financial effort.

The choir regularly performs at the Berlin Philharmonic and the Konzerthaus Berlin, in addition to numerous collaborations and guest appearances. Between 1958 and 2008, the choir established itself in Berlin's musical life under the direction of Gert Sell and was honored with the Zelter Plaque in 2004 for its dedication to choral music. In 2008, Thomas Hennig took over as artistic director. With innovatively designed programs and high artistic standards, the choir remains a pioneering institution. The choir currently consists of about 80 active members from a wide variety of backgrounds and generations.