Britten: War Requiem

It has been one of conductor emeritus Mariss Jansons's long-cherished wishes to perform this remarkable work with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Witnessing a performance of Benjamin Britten's monumental War Requiem is an experience. It has been one of conductor emeritus Mariss Jansons's long-cherished wishes to perform this remarkable work with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Scored for orchestra, large chorus, children's choir and three soloists, it is certainly a challenge to perform. The work also indirectly calls on Jansons's experience as an opera conductor, since theatre is never far away in Britten's compositions.

In 1964, the Concertgebouw Orchestra performed Britten's War Requiem under the direction of Bernard Haitink with the 'dream team' Britten had actually envisaged for the world premiere two years earlier: the Russian soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, the English tenor Peter Pears and the German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. Now the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Mariss Jansons have again invited a Russian soprano (Elena Stikhina), an English tenor (Mark Padmore) and a German baritone (Michael Volle).

Original title Britten: War Requiem
Genre Vocal Music
Recording location Concertgebouw Amsterdam, October 12, 2018
Duration approx. 90 mins
Production Company RCO, Unitel
Composer Benjamin Britten
Orchestra / Band Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Conductor Mariss Jansons
Choir Netherlands Radio Choir, Flemish Radio Choir, National Children’s Choir
Soloist Elena Stikhina, Mark Padmore, Michael Volle