26 Mar 2014

Curtain Raiser: Britten - War Requiem

From the collecton Curtain Raiser
Churchill visits the ruins of Coventry Cathedral

Churchill visits the ruins of Coventry Cathedral Photo: Library of Congress Public Domain

Ruins of Coventry Cathedral

Ruins of Coventry Cathedral Photo: Andrew Walker, CC BY-SA 3.0

The War Requiem premiered in 1962 at the opening of the new Coventry Cathedral built alongside the ruins of the bombed out medieval one. Britten's chosen texts and searing music make a powerful anti-war statement.

Introduced by Brian Kay.

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