Elgar'S Dream of Gerontius was being recognised for the first time as a great choral masterpiece at this time a century ago - although ironically in Germany rather than in his native England.
The premiere of the work at Birmingham Town Hall in 1900 had proved a near disaster due to under-rehearsal and because some of the soloists were experiencing an "off day".
However, it was presented as the main work at the Lower Rhine Music Festival, in Dusseldorf, in late December, 1901 and was acclaimed by the international audience. Elgar's months of depression over the initial reception of Gerontius turned to elation.
The Journal for this week of 1902 caught up with the success of Worcester's famous son in Dusseldorf.
"A leading music critic writes: 'It is rare that an English composer should be so lavishly and unequivocally praised as was Dr Elgar on this occasion. The performance by the chorus was the best I have ever heard. The general opinion of those who had heard the first performance of Gerontius in Birmingham, was that it was better given at Dusseldorf.''
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