Prom 72: Britten's War Requiem – 6.09.18

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:00
Royal Albert Hall

Benjamin Britten: War Requiem

Erin Wall soprano
Allan Clayton tenor
Russell Braun baritone
Huddersfield Choral Society
Royal Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus
Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Peter Oundjian conductor

A powerful statement of the composer’s pacifist beliefs – composed in the shadow of the Second World War, but harking back to the carnage of the First via the war poetry of Wilfred Owen – Britten’s War Requiem today remains one of the most devastating artistic responses to conflict: a work that mourns but also rages against the senseless violence and destruction of war.

The Huddersfield Choral Society, RSNO Chorus (175 this year) and RSNO Junior Chorus (40 this year) join the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and its outgoing Music Director Peter Oundjian for a performance marking 100 years since the end of the First World War.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

[BBMmk2]

Peter Oundnian is fast becoming a favourite conductor of mine. He has done a couple of very good recordings of John Adams and RVW for Chandos, which are well worth auditioning.

[Nick Armstrong]

Peter Oundnian conductor

Merely for the record: Oundjian

[BBMmk2]

Merely for the record: Oundjian

Indeed! I’m looking forward to this! Peter Oundjian is fast becoming one of my favourite Conductors.

[gedsmk]

Can't wait. That RSNO brass section is a wonder.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Merely for the record: Oundjian

Sorted.

[edashtav]

Igor Stravinsky said of Britten’s War Requiem:

”Nothing fails like success, or hurts more than the press’s ready certification of a ‘masterpiece’.”

The War Requiem was indubitably a success and frequently crowned as a masterpiece ( Shostakovich called it the greatest musical work of the 20th century.) but I feel that the better works of Britten are small-scale.

Are there other Doubting Thomases amongst For3 Boarders?

[Serial_Apologist]

Igor Stravinsky said of Britten’s War Requiem:

”Nothing fails like success, or hurts more than the press’s ready certification of a ‘masterpiece’.”

The War Requiem was indubitably a success and frequently crowned as a masterpiece ( Shostakovich called it the greatest musical work of the 20th century.) but I feel that the better works of Britten are small-scale.

Are there other Doubting Thomases amongst For3 Boarders?

Here's one... who prefers the early to the later Britten. Give me the Bridge variations, "Our Hunting Fathers", "Coal Face", even the Shostakovian piano and violin concertos, but the operas (apart from "Grimes") and most of the later works, you can keep.

[pastoralguy]

Here's one... who prefers the early to the later Britten. Give me the Bridge variations, "Our Hunting Fathers", "Coal Face", even the Shostakovian piano and violin concertos, but the operas (apart from "Grimes") and most of the later works, you can keep.

A friend of mine and nice commented that Britten's later works were aimed at an audience consisting of the A1 social class folk.

[Serial_Apologist]

A friend of mine and nice commented that Britten's later works were aimed at an audience consisting of the A1 social class folk.

I'd go along with that: Britten as the hunted (by identification in that Auden setting) later on capitulating to join the hunt: the "acceptable" face of "British modernism". The work comes across as uneven, with good ideas - taken from almost anywhere, from Schubert to Bartok - most often running into the sand. I've always felt most comfortable with the music when he's not, to my mind, selfconsciously going out of his way to be modern.

[pastoralguy]

I'd go along with that: Britten as the hunted (by identification in that Auden setting) later on capitulating to join the hunt: the "acceptable" face of "British modernism". The work comes across as uneven, with good ideas - taken from almost anywhere, from Schubert to Bartok - most often running into the sand. I've always felt most comfortable with the music when he's not, to my mind, selfconsciously going out of his way to be modern.

Sorry, obviously should be ' A friend of mine once...!'

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Sorry, obviously should be ' A friend of mine once...!'

- although I'm sure s/he is.

I've had a lifelong on/off relationship with Britten's Music - and there are works from all periods of his life that I find powerfully affecting, as well as pieces that for some reason leave me feeling queasy, for reasons I cannot identify. So I just stick to those works that impress me - just heard a broadcast of the Third S4tet: such a beautiful piece.

[teamsaint]

A friend of mine and nice commented that Britten's later works were aimed at an audience consisting of the A1 social class folk.

All the more reason to not let them keep it for themselves !

[pastoralguy]

All the more reason to not let them keep it for themselves !

I came across the Wallfisch/Bedford/ECO recording on Chandos of the 'Cello Symphony yesterday and and listening to it now. It's not a work that, for me anyway, has immediate appeal but I'm going to try to listen to it a few times and see if I can enter its secrets.

I'll also try to hear the 'War Requiem' on Radio 3 tonight.