Palais des Beaux-Arts, © Photo: Yannick Sas City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Brussels, Palais des Beaux‐Arts — Henry le Boeuf Hall
About the Event
May 30, 1962, was a special day in the history of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The world premiere of Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem” stood as a symbol of peace and marked the consecration of Coventry Cathedral, which had been built to replace the building destroyed by the Germans. But don’t expect a universal message of eternal peace. Britten was both a pacifist and an atheist, and he uses Wilfred Owen’s war poetry to condemn the role of the church in times of war. Sixty‐four years after the premiere, conductor Kazuki Yamada has invited baritone Christian Gerhaher, tenor Andrew Staples, and soprano Irina Lungu to express Britten’s message of profound peace. The orchestra is accompanied by two choirs and an organ.
Address
Palais des Beaux‐Arts, Rue Ravenstein 23, Brussels, Belgium — Google Maps
