War Requiem

[Stephen Smith]

Anyway, has anybody actually got anything interesting to say on the performance, singers, conductor???

Fine performances - from soloists (Alan Clayton, a relatively late replacement- up and coming and very fine voice and interpretation - as was Roderick Williams') Not sure how it came over on Radio (or, for that matter, to the audience) as I'm just back from my minor contribution from the chorus. Bychkov good to sing for, and a great interpretation - IMO. (Of course, others will disagree.....)

[Mary Chambers]

It would be interesting to hear the views of people from the British Legion about this. Does anyone know anybody who is connected with it? I have always thought it was specifically national, whereas the WR is international in intent and stresses reconciliation. I'm all for remembering wars and those who suffered in them, so long as we remember everybody, including civilians, from all nations.

As for the performance, it sounded quite good on the radio. As I said earlier, I thought Allan Clayton outstanding, with his superbly clear diction and good phrasing. I liked the soprano, too. Roderick Williams didn't come across quite as well, though this may have been the affect of the broadcast sound. Conducting seemed efficient, choirs fine.

[duncan]

Not sure how it came over on Radio (or, for that matter, to the audience) as I'm just back from my minor contribution from the chorus. Bychkov good to sing for, and a great interpretation - in IMO. (Of course, others will disagree.....)

It came over very well. It is work I respect rather than love but I thought this was fine performance.

I was told wearing a Red Poppy was compulsory for the chorus and White Poppies were specifically banned. Any truth in this? One wonders what Britten would have thought about it.

[LaurieWatt]

It came over very well. It is work I respect rather than love but I thought this was fine performance.

I was told wearing a Red Poppy was compulsory for the chorus and White Poppies were specifically banned. Any truth in this? One wonders what Britten would have thought about it.

I agree and enjoyed it much more than I expected. The internet radio broadcast was outstanding with a very wide dynamic range although the level was very low such that I had to play at max volume on the amp. The soloists were good, the chorus were fine and the orchestra played brilliantly al in that wonderful RAH acoustic.

[Mary Chambers]

I was told wearing a Red Poppy was compulsory for the chorus and White Poppies were specifically banned. Any truth in this? One wonders what Britten would have thought about it.

If that's true, it's outrageous, and Britten (as I've said, a member of the Peace Pledge Union who distribute the white poppies) would be spinning in his grave, as they say. I can't believe it's true, though. I doubt if he'd have objected to the red poppy - it's just the idea that the white ones were forbidden - surely not?

On the other hand, I think he would have been happy that so many people have heard the piece. As he said "I hope it will make people think a bit".

[BBMmk2]

I was surprised that an organisation that has the current motto "Shoulder to shoulder with those who serve" would perform the work of a conscientious objector. I wondered if perhaps they don't know that this is a pacifist piece as well as a memorial. I'm not suggesting they wouldn't prefer peace, and that they haven't done useful work in the past, but nevertheless I associate them with parades and uniforms, and similarly un-Brittenish things. The armed forces they support at the moment aren't conscripted. They are choosing those careers.

This may be a bit confused, but somehow I find the event jarring.

I notice that they haven't got a German baritone.

Would I be wrong, that I get the feel that Royal British Legion itself, doesn't get the message? They just thought ah Briiten's War Requiem how appropriate?

[Mary Chambers]

Would I be wrong, that I get the feel that Royal British Legion itself, doesn't get the message? They just thought ah Briiten's War Requiem how appropriate?

I suspect that's it, BBM!

[jean]

...I doubt if he'd have objected to the red poppy - it's just the idea that the white ones were forbidden - surely not?

I will repeat here what I said on the other thread.

I used to wear a white poppy, but I came to the conclusion that the message I wanted to send - 'I care about peace' - could not be detached from '...and all those of you around me who are wearing red ones don't care.'

I decided it was arrogance on my part to imply that I knew why other people did what they did. So I stopped.

[Mary Chambers]

I will repeat here what I said on the other thread.

I used to wear a white poppy, but I came to the conclusion that the message I wanted to send - 'I care about peace' - could not be detached from '...and all those of you around me who are wearing red ones don't care.'

I decided it was arrogance on my part to imply that I knew why other people did what they did. So I stopped.

I have sympathy with this view, and in fact this year decided not to wear a poppy at all. I don't think it is arrogance to wear a white one, but it might be interpreted as such.

Apparently the choice given to the choir last night was red poppies or no poppies. They didn't have to wear a red one, but couldn't wear a white one. I suppose it could look a bit like Poppy Wars - rather against the spirit of the piece!

[jean]

I have sympathy with this view, and in fact this year decided not to wear a poppy at all...

I haven't worn one for a while now.

I see there was a later, alternative ceremony at the Cenotaph yesterday:

In opposition to the pro-war tone of the state parade. Veterans For Peace UK will walk to the Cenotaph under a banner which reflects the original sentiment of the Armistice "NEVER AGAIN".

Once there D-Day veteran Jim Radford will sing '1916' and Afghanistan veteran John Boulton will read 'Suicide in the Trenches' by Siegfried Sassoon. A wreath of white & red poppies will then be laid by Northern Ireland veteran John Bourton. After The Last Post has been played there will be a period of silence in which to remember all victims of war.

Veterans For Peace UK have been active since 2011. They have a wide range of members from all three services ranging in experience from D-Day to Afghanistan. They work toward increasing public awareness of the true costs of war for the larger purpose of world peace.

[BBMmk2]

Strange how I have never heard of this organisation before. I wear a red poppy, to signify casualties of all conflicts.

[Oliver]

"The scribes on all the people shove and bawl allegiance to the state." And they are still doing it.

Many similar lines in Owen's poetry make it clear that he was appalled by the nationalism that wars induce. And Britten knew exactly what he wanted to say when he chose the text. I heard the performance in unpropitious circumstances (radio on the M1) -the first time for many years- and I was moved by the music, the text and the drama of the performance....better, I thought, than BB's own which I got to know well when it was released.
I agree with Mary's comment and thought the same while I was stuck in a traffic jam near Northampton. And I cannot resist a political and no doubt controversial comment; the behaviour of a sizeable minorrity of UK soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan has resulted in my refusal to participate any more in Remembrance Day, despite my admiration for those who fought against Nazism. Volunteers who kill and torture civilians (and prisoners) will get nothing from me.
I think that both Owen and Britten would have agreed with me.

[Barbirollians]

"The scribes on all the people shove and bawl allegiance to the state." And they are still doing it.

Many similar lines in Owen's poetry make it clear that he was appalled by the nationalism that wars induce. And Britten knew exactly what he wanted to say when he chose the text. I heard the performance in unpropitious circumstances (radio on the M1) -the first time for many years- and I was moved by the music, the text and the drama of the performance....better, I thought, than BB's own which I got to know well when it was released.
I agree with Mary's comment and thought the same while I was stuck in a traffic jam near Northampton. And I cannot resist a political and no doubt controversial comment; the behaviour of a sizeable minorrity of UK soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan has resulted in my refusal to participate any more in Remembrance Day, despite my admiration for those who fought against Nazism. Volunteers who kill and torture civilians (and prisoners) will get nothing from me.
I think that both Owen and Britten would have agreed with me.

I think the right way to treat those who commit atrocities is to prosecute and punish them like Marine A ( though why he was not named I find unsatisfactory justice must be seen to be done ) not to refuse to commemorate those who saved us from the Nazis or lost their lives in WW1 or young lads and lasses in Iraq and Afghanistan just doing their job conscientiously and who are blown up by a roadside bomb .

I doubt either Owen or Britten would agree with you .

[Mary Chambers]

young lads and lasses in Iraq and Afghanistan just doing their job conscientiously and who are blown up by a roadside bomb .
.

A job they have chosen to do, though. To me that makes their situation, tragic as it is, very different from that of those who were conscripted, or the WW1 volunteers who had no idea what they were letting themselves in for. Nowadays people know much better what war involves.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

A job they have chosen to do, though.

Thanks to a politico-economic situation that offers them few if any choices, maybe?