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The CBSO gave the premiere performance of Britten's War Requiem in 1962 for the opening of the new Coventry Cathedral. 50 years after Benjamin Britten's death, we returned to the cathedral to celebrate this poignant piece of music.
On Remembrance Day 2026, we gathered to perform Britten's plea for peace - as resonant now as the day it was written. CBSO Music Director, Kazuki Yamada conducted the requiem for his very first time, joined on stage by the CBSO Chorus, CBSO Youth Chorus, and Trinity Boys Choir. At the work's premiere, Britten insisted that there be three soloists from countries that suffered in World War II (Germany, Russia, and Britain), and the same nationalities were represented by the soloists in this concert: Christian Gerhaher, Olga Peretyatko and Andrew Staples.
Join us as we reflect on this monumental concert: from a historical journey with Dr Lucy Walker as we discover the origins of the piece, to an insight into what this performance meant to the organisation from our Director of Artistic Planning, Catherine Arlidge.
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You can listen back to the concert on BBC Radio 3 here on BBC Sounds until 10 December.
The journey to Britten's War Requiem with Dr Lucy Walker
We visited Coventry Cathedral ahead of the performance to film with Dr Lucy Walker, who takes audiences on a historical journey to discover the origins of the piece.
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The piece offers something rare – you get to stop, to listen to the singers and the words. It gives you space to reflect as you’re playing. Quite often, as a player, you can be a step removed, because you’re delivering something tricky in the moment. But this piece allows you space to reflect, which is special.
Catherine Arlidge, Director of Artistic Planning and former violinist in the CBSO.
Read more from Cath's interview with Bachtrack here.
In this performance, a vast sea of instrumentalists and singers surged before us as Kazuki Yamada presided, often bewitchingly still, always graceful.
The Guardian
A huge thank you to David and Sandra Burbidge for their generous support in making this concert possible.
