A DEVOTION to a much-loved local festival which which celebrated Sir Edward Elgar saw the new King Charles III grace the city’s Cathedral during a visit five years ago.
The then Prince of Wales enjoyed the sounds of Elgar during a Three Choirs Festival masterpiece at Worcester Cathedral in July 2017.
His Majesty, who is president of the Three Choirs Festival Association, joined an audience of 1,000 music lovers from around the world to hear Elgar’s stirring oratorio, Dream of Gerontius at the concert.
The work has been a favourite of Festival audiences ever since its first, full Three Choirs Festival performance in 1902, when it was conducted in the cathedral by the composer himself.
English National Opera music director Martyn Brabbins conducted the evening which was performed by the 150-strong Three Choirs Festival Chorus and Worcester Cathedral Girl Choristers, together with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
The soloists were mezzo-soprano Susan Bickley, tenor David Butt Philip and baritone Roderick Williams.
Michael Clarke, the former chairman of the Worcester Three Choirs Festival, said: “It was a huge privilege for all of us involved in the Three Choirs Festival to welcome the Prince of Wales, and perform Dream of Gerontius at the very location where Elgar himself conducted its first Festival performance in 1902.
“Afterwards His Royal Highness told me how much he had enjoyed the concert, and he complimented the excellence of the performance.”
Before he departed, Prince Charles met members of the Worcester Three Choirs Festival committee, trustees and staff of the charity, supporters of the evening’s event and some of the performers.
His visit was the culmination of the 302nd anniversary of the event and saw 74 concerts, workshops, talks and family-friendly events hosted across Worcestershire.
The Three Choirs Festival will return to Worcester in 2024.
• Visit https://3choirs.org/ for more.
