Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) was one of the leading composers in Great Britain and is considered one of the great masters of the 20th century. His international fame is based on works such as the opera Peter Grimes (1946), the War Requiem (1961) and the opera Death in Venice (1973).
Britten wrote the War Requiem for the dedication of the newly built Coventry Cathedral on 30 May 1962; the old building was severely damaged by German bombing during World War II. The War Requiem is about war and the suffering of war and combines the traditional Latin text of the Requiem with words by the English poet Wilfried Owen (1893-1918), who died in World War I.
Benjamin Britten prefaced the score with the following words by Wilfried Owen:
"My subject is War, and the pity of War,
The Poetry is in the pity ...
All a poet can do today is warn."
"My theme is war and the suffering of war.
Poetry is in suffering...
All a poet can do today is: warn."
"For the Sunday performance in the Grosses Festspielhaus, a vocal trio was called up that could hardly be surpassed, giving great form to the flaming colors of the passionate (accusation) as well as the pale mood of fatal loss, the appeal as well as the contemplation: Anna Netrebko, in front of the choir positioned, brought her measuring parts to effect with (over)radiant power and voluminous energy, magically illuminating without any pressure, Ian Bostridge wrapped his part in the tenor performance of a ghostly pale, almost insubstantially floating voice that is so characteristic of him, Thomas Hampson showed again - as already as Posa in Verdi's "Don Carlo" - the famous tension of his baritone line, found in the lyrical a direct, oppressive, shattering dramatic tone.dead soldier in a dark
Britten's 'War Requiem' is not an excessively powerful or even bombastic work, despite all the external effort (children's choir, large choir, soloists, large and small orchestra). On the contrary, it requires a precisely differentiated design talent, for which Antonio Pappano brings with him the best possible sovereign ability to dispose. It's not just about coordinating masses, but rather letting the specific sound speak." (Salzburger Nachrichten)
