Wednesday 14 June 2023
Brinsley performed with the University of York Symphony Orchestra in the 2022/23 season finale, given with the University of York Choir in York Minster as part of the York Festival of Ideas. John Stringer conducted Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, with Joshua Ellicott as Gerontius, Kitty Whately as the Angel and Alexander Ashworth as the Priest and the Angel of the Agony.1
Edward Elgar The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38
Conductor: John Stringer · Soloists: Joshua Ellicott (Gerontius), Kitty Whately (Angel), Alexander Ashworth (Priest, Angel of the Agony)
The review opened on “a well-judged expansive orchestral Prelude” and found Joshua Ellicott “simply imperious” as Gerontius, with Kitty Whately’s Softly and gently “just heavenly”. Orchestra and choir were “excellent throughout”, and John Stringer handled these forces and the Minster acoustic “with exceptional musical skill”.2