ED2016 4/5 Reviews ED2016 Music Reviews

Elgar’s The Apostles (Edward Gardner conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Edinburgh International Festival)

By Louise Rodgers | Published on Monday 22 August 2016

‘The Apostles’ is the story of ordinary people who did extraordinary things; the same can be said of the hundreds of musicians who came together for this performance. It was hard to remember that, apart from the RSNO and professional soloists – Karen Cargill excelled as Mary Magdalene, as did John Relya as Judas – the musicians were children, students and amateur singers, albeit superbly trained. And of course, Sir Edward Elgar rose from local church organist to composer of this masterpiece. Elgar wrote imaginatively for the organ in this cataclysmic orchestration – not hymn tunes but a sinister, otherworldly rumbling that shook the stage for this story of betrayal, death and redemption. ‘Alleluia’ echoed between the children’s and adults’ choirs – a fitting finale.

Usher Hall, 14 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Louise Rodgers]