Britten's War Requiem

One of the greatest choral works of the twentieth century, War Requiem emerged from a world that was rebuilding after the harrowing trauma of World War II. Completed in 1962, the War Requiem was first performed for the consecration of Coventry Cathedral – where the Choirs only recently performed Evensong as part of its UK Tour – which was rebuilt after the original 14th century cathedral was destroyed in a bombing raid in 1940. Hope and consolation meets violence and despair as Britten weaves the traditional Latin text of the Requiem Mass with the anti-war poetry of First World War soldier Wilfred Owen, taking audiences on a musical journey through moments of profound intimacy and almost brutal magnificence.

Brett Weymark conducts Sydney Philharmonia’s 430-voice Festival Chorus, 110 choristers from SPC’s choirs, three fantastic soloists – Welsh soprano Elin Pritchard, American-born tenor Kyle Stegall, and Australian baritone Jeremy Kleeman – alongside the Sydney Youth Orchestra and50 Conservatorium High School choristers. Elizabeth Scott conducts the chamber orchestra, while Michael Bradshaw leads the children's choir.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs’ Artistic & Music Director, Brett Weymark OAM said: “Over the last few years, much of our programming at Sydney Philharmonia Choirs has gravitated towards works that plead for peace in a world still fractured by inequality, violence and the futility of war. All roads in that trajectory lead to the greatest anti-war musical statement of the twentieth century, Britten’s groundbreaking War Requiem. It is a work that speaks directly to the audience and never fails to be anything other than profoundly moving and relevant. It is as if the ink only dried on this work yesterday – it has a timeless and prophetic quality. It is a work that resonates with our choristers and I am thrilled that a new generation of instrumentalist from the Sydney Youth Orchestra will be exposed to this iconic work. It is as if we are passing on the knowledge of the previous generation to the next.”

Today’s world is still torn by conflict and cruelty, and it is easy to feel numb in the face of suffering. But in the War Requiem, Britten has given us music to make us think and help us heal, and this ambitious and powerful performance in Sydney’s most iconic venue is not to be missed.

>ARTISTS:

BRETT WEYMARK conductor
ELIZABETH SCOTT conductor (chamber orchestra)
MICHAEL BRADSHAW conductor (children’s choir)
ELIN PRITCHARD soprano
KYLE STEGALL tenor
JEREMY KLEEMAN baritone

CONSERVATORIUM HIGH SCHOOL TREBLE VOICES
FESTIVAL CHORUS
SYDNEY PHILHARMONIA CHOIRS
THE SYDNEY YOUTH ORCHESTRA

PROGRAM:
Benjamin BRITTEN War Requiem