Foster, Britten and Owen – the book, the launch.

Last night saw the launch of THE IDEA WAS GOOD ~ the story of Britten’s War Requiem, a passionate book about a passionate subject (see earlier posts below).

After a ‘soft launch’ to a welcoming audience of ‘Friends of Coventry Cathedral’ in the morning, the scene was set in st Michael’s Hall (Coventry Cathedral) for the official launch last night (30^th April 2012).

Amongst the fabulous displays of artefacts and memorabilia, which themselves celebrate the foundation of Coventry’s iconic symbol of Peace and Reconciliation, wine was served and canapés circulated amongst the guests invited to share the occasion.

For Michael Foster, the author, this was the culmination of a extraordinary two year journey on which he’d embarked at the invitation of Coventry Cathedral to write a book to be available as part of the Cathedral’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Here, just four short weeks before the 50^th anniversary performance of War Requiem, Michael was clearly moved and proud to introduce his book, his own Magnum Opus.

Michael is guaranteed a place at the anniversary performance - not because of his hard work organising all of the great musical events being performed as part of the Golden Jubilee; not because of his two year journey to write and produce the book whose profits go to the Jubilee Fund; not even because he had the chance to buy tickets from the outsell, long before they sold out over a year ago … no, Michael is guaranteed a place because he is singing in it.

The Very Reverend John Irvine, Dean of Coventry, introduced Michael and the reason behind the commissioning of the book about Britten’s War Requiem – ironically commissioned about fifty years later than Britten had himself been invited to write a celebratory opus for the Festival of Consecration. Both invitations were eagerly accepted. The first (chronologically) culminated is the performance of War Requiem in the Cathedral, May 1962; the latter in THE IDEA WAS GOOD – it’s story.

Michael told his audience about Benjamin Britten’s excitement at finally having the reason to write a musical statement of peace, or more so about the horrors of war. His Requiem Mass in memory of the dead was to be woven in and around the words of Wilfred Owen, so vividly recounting and warning of the violent, pointless, bloody loss of life in the trenches of the First World War.

THE IDEA WAS GOOD is a story for Coventry as well as a story for anyone, anywhere who has faith in the hope that reconciliation offers. Michael Foster shared these thoughts with us as he, naturally, commended his book to us. The messages are as true today as they were in the heart of the Cold War fifty years ago.

THE IDEA WAS GOOD is available from Coventry Cathedral or directly via the website @

www.warrequiem.co.uk

Michael.Foster@CoventryCathedral.org.uk

[Michael (left) with some of the design team: Luke Matthews (far left) of King Charles I School Kidderminster designed the amazing cover; Feride Seferaj (Fred)and Phil Perry of Coventry University Graphic Design department designed the book itself.]