The Apostles

For Sir Mark, it’s the closest Elgar came to writing an opera and he particularly admires its opening – ‘the mystical introduction, then dawn over Jerusalem, setting the scene for an epic.’ Elgar again skilfully uses leitmotifs in his portrayal of the characters, particularly the powerful music for Judas. Among the exceptional soloists are Sophie Bevan, Alice Coote, Clive Bayley and Ed Lyon, who makes his Hallé debut. In its review of the Hallé’s...