Opera Scotland

Apostles The Apostles

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Music

Edward Elgar (born Broadheath, Worcs, 2 June 1857; died Worcester, 23 February 1934)

Text

The composer

Source

Liturgy

 

Premieres

First Performance: Birmingham (Town Hall), 14 October 1903.

First Performance in Scotland: tbc.

 

Background

The Apostles was initially planned as a self-contained work. Eventually The Kingdom was introduced as its final section, before in its turn expanding to fill an evening. A third work, to complete the trilogy, was never composed. The music of The Apostles is rather different from his earlier pieces, with a perhaps surprising degree of restraint and subtlety.

 

Characters

Blessed Virgin (soprano)

Mary Magdalene (contralto)

John (tenor)

Peter (baritone)

Judas (bass)

Jesus (baritone)

Angel (soprano)

 

Summary

 

Part 1

The Calling of the Apostles.

By the .

By the Sea of Galilee.

 

Part 2

The Betrayal.

Golgotha.

At the Sepulchre.

The Ascension.