Halle Choir, Mark Elder

The Hallé’s Dvorák festival reaches a splendid conclusion with a rare performance of the composer’s great oratorio Saint Ludmila, performed here in a newly revised English translation by David Pountney. The drama describes the conversion to Christianity of Ludmila and her husband-to-be Prince Borivoj, and the ensuing triumph of Christianity over paganism throughout the Czech lands.

Accordingly it is a patriotic work, one with great dramatic qualities and sharply-drawn characterisations which received rapturous applause from the audience in Leeds Town Hall at its premiere in 1886. Dvorák is one of the greatest melodists of them all and this piece has melody in abundance in the form of superb arias and rousing, Handelian choruses that will surely raise the roof of The Bridgewater Hall.