The Choral 2025

Choir in Ramsden appoints Guthrie as replacement choirmaster

With their choirmaster joining the army, the Ramsden choir decides to appoint Dr Henry Guthrie as his replacement. The group accepts him despite his homosexuality, Germanophilia and atheism; a brick is hurled through the audition room window with a note deriding him as 'Hun muck' tied to Bach's St Matthew Passion. Guthrie then begins shaping the choir's repertoire around his own preferences.

Guthrie proposes Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius

Guthrie proposes Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius as the central work for the group, replacing Bach's piece. The idea is accepted despite misgivings about Elgar's Catholicism and the work's inclusion of purgatory. The selection signals Guthrie's new direction for the choir.

Recruits male voices from the nearby military hospital

To bolster dwindling male singers, Guthrie recruits male vocalists from the nearby military hospital. The additional voices bring new energy but also practical challenges for rehearsal space and cohesion. This expansion sets the stage for the ensemble's ambitious project.

Two singers begin a relationship; Bella's sweetheart Clyde missing believed dead

Two members of the choir begin a romantic relationship, drawing Bella into a new attachment as Clyde is 'missing believed dead'. The uncertainty of Clyde’s fate colors Bella’s emotions and her commitment to her new partner. The looming war atmosphere intensifies the personal stakes for the group.

Clyde returns with an amputated arm

Clyde returns to Ramsden after being presumed dead, but he has had his arm amputated. Bella feels drawn to her new lover despite Clyde's return, creating a complicated triangle of loyalties. The town absorbs the news amid the larger backdrop of war.

Pommern sinks; Elgar approves Guthrie's plan

Guthrie receives the double blow of news that the German battleship Pommern has sunk, and that Elgar has approved the choir's chosen work. The emotional impact is severe for Guthrie, since his lover was a sailor aboard Pommern. The approval reinforces the troupe's resolve amid grief.

Robert contemplates conscientious objection

Guthrie's gay pianist, Robert, tells him he intends to register as a conscientious objector rather than be conscripted. He struggles to persuade his conscription board, but their discussions reveal the tensions between art, morality, and wartime duty. The choice places strain on their personal and professional relationship.

Duxbury steps aside; Clyde takes the lead role

Duxbury reluctantly relinquishes the lead role to the talented Clyde, shifting the group's dynamics. The revised casting reflects the choir's resource constraints and Guthrie's preferences. This change foreshadows the ensemble's willingness to adapt to circumstances for the project.

Minimal resources force revisions to Gerontius

Limited resources force the group to amend the work, staging Gerontius as a wounded soldier with the Angel represented by a nurse. The modifications create practical constraints but also offer a fresh, contemporary lens on the piece. Guthrie's artistic leadership guides the production through these revisions.

Elgar's investiture coincides with rehearsal tensions

The performance is due on the day Elgar is to be invested as an honorary Doctor of Music at the University of Manchester. Two members invite Elgar to a rehearsal afterward, but his initial goodwill sours into hostility when Duxbury mentions the revisions. He withdraws his permission to perform after the dispute.

The show goes on as a free concert

Under pressure, the group makes the performance free of charge, turning a potential failure into a triumph. The audience response is enthusiastic, and the modified Gerontius is delivered with sincerity. The event establishes the choir's resilience and communal spirit.

Conscriptions begin; three men join the trains

Soon after, three men from the choir are conscripted, while a fourth is spared due to epilepsy. The group faces the reality of war taking its toll on their ranks. The impending departure adds urgency and gravity to their final rehearsals.

Night before departure: visits to a sex worker and Mary

On the night before leaving, one singer visits the local sex worker Mrs Bishop to lose his virginity before going. Another singer visits his girlfriend Mary, who refuses to have sex as part of a bargain with God for his safe return. The scene juxtaposes wartime duty with personal desires.

Robert is taken by Military Police

Robert is taken away to prison by the Military Police, removing him from the group as conscription proceeds. The isolation intensifies the emotional cost of the war on the choir members. Guthrie sustains his leadership amid the upheaval.