To celebrate the 100th anniversary of
Benjamin Britten’s birth, QYS performs his extraordinary
War Requiem. The text below is adapted from information from the Britten-Pears Foundation.
On the night of 14 November 1940, the medieval Coventry Cathedral was destroyed during a bombing raid by the German Luftwaffe. When Britten was asked to write a work for the city’s new cathedral - consecrated in May 1962 - he took the opportunity to make his most profound statement on the nature of war. As a committed pacifist from an early age, Britten sought to emphasise the building’s turbulent history.
Dedicated to the memory of four friends,
War Requiem is a profound and deeply disturbing creed, particularly notable for its juxtaposition of war poems by
Wilfred Owen alongside the
Catholic Mass for the Dead.
The work is scored for tenor (Shaun Brown) and baritone (Kang Wang) soloists who sing Owen’s words and are accompanied by a separate chamber orchestra; a soprano soloist in this performance portrayed by Mirusia who stands somewhat apart and who, with the large chorus sings the words of the Mass; and a boys’ choir even further removed from the main world, who represent innocence and the unchanging, and are mostly accompanied by chamber organ. The main orchestra is large, including triple woodwind and brass, four percussionists and concert organ. The small orchestra comprises woodwind quintet, string quintet, harp and percussion.
Learn more about
Benjamin Britten, his anniversary and his work at
Britten 100.
PROGRAMBenjamin Britten - War Requiem
Queensland Festival Chorus
Chorusmaster: Alison Rogers
Soprano: Mirusia
Tenor: Kang Wang
Baritone: Shaun Brown Concert series subscriptions with great savings are now available. Please visit
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