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