Chorus, ' Unfold, ye portals everlasting '

In his later years Gounod produced several large-scale sacred works. The Redemption was begun in 1868, but not completed until the year before it was performed at the Birmingham Festival.
This Chorus concludes the Second Part of the work. Jesus ascends into Heaven. Above, celestial voices resound, with harps and trumpets, and sing, 'But who is He, the King of Glory?' whilst on earth the choir sings the praises of Him ' who death overcame, the Lord in battle mighty.'