Manchesters Bridgewater Hall is the venue for the Manchester premiere on Thursday July 3rd of Edward Gregson’s ‘symphony’ for chorus and orchestra The Dance, forever the Dance.
The Royal Northern College of Music Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will be conducted by Martyn Brabbins, with
Anna Burford as the mezzo soprano soloist. Messiaen’s massive Turangalila Symphony will follow the
Gregson in the second half.
The Dance, forever the Dance was commissioned by the Hertfordshire Chorus and was premiered in 1999. The London premiere was given by the Bach Choir at the Royal Festival Hall in 2004. Gregson’s life-affirming work
is in four movements and is structured around a tight symphonic plan. The four movements each have titles: Dance of Joy, Dance of Love, Dance of Death and Dance of Life.
It will be Edward Gregson’s last appearance as Principal of the College as he retires from the post at the end July of this year.