Elgar, writing to Frank Schuster in 1905, wanted to hear Coates perform the 'Three Holy Kings' scene from Wolfrum's "Weihnachtsmysterium". "Gerontius" was performed with the 1904 line-up under Henry Wood's direction in his 1906 season. Then Frederic Austin was "Priest" and "Angel of the Agony" to Coates's "Soul" at the Festivals of Southport (1906) and Birmingham (1909) and at Manchester (1908). In 1907, in correspondence, Elgar wrote of him: 'The Arch-chanter John was the greatest success and a joy to see.'