Britten's War Requiem from Coventry

Marking Armistice Day, Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem is performed live with an international line-up of soloists and choruses alongside the orchestra which gave the work’s first performance, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kazuki Yamada. It was composed for the opening of the new Coventry Cathedral in 1962 following the city’s devastation from wartime aerial bombing. Britten combines a setting of the Latin Mass for the Dead with the poetry of First World War poet Wilfred Owen to create a choral masterpiece of poignant and powerful effect.

Presented by Mark Forrest, live from Coventry Cathedral.

Benjamin Britten: War Requiem

Olga Peretyatko (soprano)
Andrew Staples (tenor)
Christian Gerhaher (baritone)
CBSO Chorus
CBSO Youth Chorus
Trinity Boys' Choir
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Kazuki Yamada (conductor)

To listen on most smart speakers, just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert."