London Philharmonic Orchestra: The Apostles

At the peak of his fame, and height of his genius, Elgar threw all his creative power into a single epic project: a trilogy of choral works that told the story of early Christianity not (as he put it) with ‘hymn tunes and rubbish’, but as a sweeping, deeply-felt human drama, glowing with colour and emotion. Written for huge forces and filled with music that goes straight to the heart, The Apostles is the closest Elgar ever got to writing an opera. Mark Elder adores it, and with a cast made up of top operatic talent, it will be an experience to touch the soul.