Does the powerful impact of War Requiem reduce with so much repetition?

From the author of THE IDEA WAS GOOD and proud member of the CBSO chorus – Michael Foster:

It’s now exactly a year since the CBSO celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Britten’s War Requiem with an unforgettable performance in Coventry Cathedral. Last night (28th May 1013), in Birmingham’s magnificent Symphony Hall,  exactly the same ‘team’ contributed to Britten’s centenary in Birmingham – ‘A Boy was Born’ - with the first of five European performances of this iconic work in the space of three weeks.

Hannover this Friday evening is followed by what promises to be a very special performance in the Frauenkirche, Dresden – destroyed, like Coventry Cathedral, in World War II but unlike Coventry, rebuilt exactly as before. The Frauenkirche is ‘twinned’ with Coventry Cathedral as are the two cities.

The Frauenkirche, Dresden after its WWII destruction (above)

and rebuilt in its original form (Below)

Then, on the following Saturday night a performance will be given in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées and two weeks later the last of the series, this time in St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

Does the powerful impact of War Requiem reduce with so much repetition?

Coventry Cathedral after its WWII destruction (above)

and Andris Nelsons (below) conducting the 50th Anniversary of War Requiem

before the great tapestry of Christ, Lord in May 2012.

Not from the performer’s perspective and, judging by the audience reaction last night, not for those who may have encountered it before or those, perhaps,  coming to it for the first time. The atmosphere was ‘electric’, the performance (like Coventry Cathedral) equally highly charged and the stunned silence at the end almost as long as that in Coventry. Let’s see what Europe now make of it!

These are some of the comments from Tuesday night’s performance:

Chorus Member

The audience don’t see Andris Nelsons’ entreating eyes, now anguished, now seraphic; the semaphoring mouth; the fluttering, eloquent hands as he dispenses with the baton; the sheer depth of involvement in communicating his vision.

Cellist

The sheer emotional response of all concerned, tears even in the eyes of hard-boiled back-desk violins, and even more so from the vocal soloists. Mark Padmore, exuded both anger at the crass futility of war, and overwhelming guilt and regret as he and the German “enemy” he killed are reconciled in eternal sleep.

Audience

The CBSO and CBSO Chorus were wonderful last night. Truly breathtaking and wonderfully conducted by Nelsons (as usual)!

Never known such a long silence at the end of a piece.

An amazing concert tonight - War Requiem in Symphony Hall. Bravo The CBSO , 3 great soloists.

Britten was a visionary musician, and incredible man. Bravo The CBSO for honouring both the victims of war and Britten’s tribute to them.

Thank you Michael, thank you the CBSO et al ... and thank you Mr Britten 100 years on.

Watch the Golden Jubilee performance in the Cathedral on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khDzNCS2qP4 from which some of the 50th Anniversary images above have been taken (with thanks).

 

Please see www.cbso.co.uk for further concert and booking details.

And, to purchase one of the few remaining copies of Michael Fostar's THE IDEA WAS GOOD ~ The Story of Britten's War Requiem, please visit www.warrequiem.co.uk:

www.warrequiem.co.uk

Celebrating 100 Years of Britten with the CBSO

Last night – 28^th May 2013 – was the first of a series of much anticipated performances of War Requiem to celebrate the 100^th Anniversary of Benjamin Britten.

The life and work of Benjamin Britten and the history and performances of his pinnacle achievement – War Requiem – is a complicated web or fact, rumour, coincidence, love and of course, tears.

Coincidence has a particular prevalence; you might say there’s more than a touch of déjà vu. At the last minute (practically) before last night’s performance, soprano Kristine Opolais had to withdraw from the CBSO series of performances in England, Germany and France.

Unlike the political refusal by the Russian authorities of a visa that prevented Galina Vishnevskaya’s soprano performance at the première of War Requiem in Coventry Cathedral in 1964, the birth of Kristine’s first baby caused certain physiological changes to her voice. So, just as Heather Harper stood up superbly for Vishnevskaya in ’64 so Erin Wall replaces Opolais last night.

Heather Harper and Britten at rehearsals for the première of War Requiem in Coventry Cathedral 1964.

Watch the Golden Jubilee performance in the Cathedral on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khDzNCS2qP4

Erin Wall (left) bravely and superbly replaced Kristine Opolais at a very late stage for the CBSO Centenary celebrations of Benjamin Britten.

For the full story of War Requiem intrigue, coincidence and perhaps even a touch of unwritten ‘espionage’, read THE IDEA WAS GOOD by Michael Foster @ http://www.warrequiem.co.uk/

The CBSO Centenary celebrations of Benjamin Britten continue:

Friday 31^st May – Congress Centrum, Hannover.

Saturday 1^st June – Frauenkirche, Dresden.

Saturday 8^th June - Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris.

Please see www.cbso.co.uk for further concert and booking details.

www.warrequiem.co.uk

 

 

 

CBSO Performances – a Celebration of Benjamin Britten

This is the performance schedule for the CBSO's celebration of Benjamin Britten's Centenary Year.

This exciting programme of dates and venues offers something for everybody, whether you are new to Britten or a seasoned follower of both the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Choruses, and the musical experience of Britten.

Tuesday 28th May

A BOY WAS BORN: Andris Nelsons (below) conducts Britten’s War Requiem

Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Nelsons, Opolais,  Müller- Brachmann, CBSO Choruses 

 

 

Friday 31st May

The CBSO in Hanover

Hanover, Congress Centrum (pictured below).

Nelsons, Opolais, Padmore, Brachmann, CBSO Chorus, Madchenchor Children's Choir

Britten’s War Requiem.

Saturday 1st June

The CBSO in Dresden's Frauenkirche (below, right)

Andris Nelsons conductor
Kristine Opolais soprano
Mark Padmore tenor
Hanno Mueller Brachmann bass
CBSO Chorus
Madchenchor Children's Choir

Britten: War Requiem

Dresden’s Frauenkirche is known throughout the world as a monument to world peace. This message will attach itself indelibly to the performance of Britten’s War Requiem, the creation of a glowing pacifist. The solo parts in this work were written, with great symbolism, for an English, a German and a Russian singer.

It was composed on the occasion of the consecration of the new cathedral in Dresden’s twin city of Coventry, and this year – when Britten’s birth has its 100th anniversary – it will be performed by the same orchestra that was also entrusted with its world premiere - The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Saturday 8th June

The CBSO in Paris

Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

(more details to follow)

 

 

www.warrequiem.co.uk

Celebrating the Centenary of Benjamin Britten

As part of the celebration of Benjamin Britten’s centenary year, we will be following the celebratory concerts of the CBSO – City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Why the CBSO?

Partly because it was they who performed Britten’s premiere of War Requiem as part of the musical events surrounding the Consecration of Coventry Cathedral in May 1962 and because Michael and Cathy Foster are part of the excited touring chorus – energetically vocalising their joyful thanks for the birth of such an important contributor to 20^th Century British music.

  

(Above) CBSO in rehearsals for the premiere performance of War Requiem

in Coventry Cathedral. Benjamin Britten is personally directing the arrangements

...but all is not well and tensions are rising.

Michael Foster is also the author of THE IDEA WAS GOOD – a jointly analytical and entertaining book written for the Golden Jubilee performance of War Requiem at Coventry Cathedral. Simon Rattle referred to THE IDEA WAS GOOD as – “…a wonderful and brilliantly written book…” – praise indeed.

This blog was launched to support the Jubilee concert at Coventry Cathedral and to help promote the book. It continues now to support the Centenary Concerts of Benjamin Britten’s iconic works and to offer a further unique opportunity to own a copy of the Golden Jubilee book.

www.warrequiem.co.uk

Benjamin Britten ~ composing a century

As 2012 was a celebration of half a century for Coventry Cathedral and Britten’s War Requiem, so 2013 celebrates the centenary of the man himself.

Prolific, despondent; inspired, rejected; resolute, tormented.

Benjamin Britten pictured here with his lifelong partner and musical companion, Peter Pears.

Benjamin Britten was born 22^nd November 1913 and from an early age showed and soon proved his musical prowess, going on to dominate twentieth-century British classical music.

As part of the celebration of his life and recognition of his contributions to the global influence of British music, this blog will follow some of the concerts being held in his honour. Specifically, we will follow the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) whose choir have extensive travel plans and performance schedules to sing Britten’s War Requiem.

Michael Foster and his wife Cathy will carry Britten’s voice across Europe and we hope to follow their concerts and receptions over the coming months.

We move on from celebrating Coventry’s 50 year association with Britten, to celebrate Benjamin Britten himself - the man, the music, the mentor - and hope you will be able to follow us as we share the journey.

The Britten Pears Foundation has a website dedicated to the many hundreds of events taking place as part of the centenary celebrations - well worth a look: http://www.britten100.org/home

www.warrequiem.co.uk