Britten’s War Requiem

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs presents a rare performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, a deeply moving denunciation of war that has remained as sadly relevant today as when it was first performed.

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 meet 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 and 50 Conservatorium High School choristers. Elizabeth Scott conducts the chamber orchestra, while Michael Bradshaw leads the children's choir.