A concert presented jointly by the Bury Bach Choir and the North London Chorus

This is a BURY ST EDMUNDS FESTIVAL 2015 event

Saturday 16 May 2015

7.30 pm

(no interval)

St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds

Janis Kelly soprano

Nicky Spence tenor

Marcus Farnsworth baritone

St Edmundsbury Cathedral Boys’ Choir

James Thomas conductor

London Graduate Orchestra

Murray Hipkin conductor

Bury Bach Choir

North London Chorus         

Prometheus Orchestra

Philip Reed conductor                                             

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the destruction of Coventry’s 14th century cathedral, this performance of Britten’s pacifist masterpiece will be given by the Bury Bach Choir and the North London Chorus, together with the St Edmundsbury Cathedral Boys Choir.  First performed at the festival to mark the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral in 1962, this huge work is extremely moving for performers and audience alike as the traditional Latin mass, interspersed with settings of powerful poems by Wilfred Owen, draw a telling picture of the waste and futility of war.

The immense musical forces for this evening’s performance are divided into three groups that alternate and interact throughout the piece.  The choir and soprano soloist, assisted at times by the boys’ choir at a distance, give us the Latin text; whilst the tenor and baritone soloists bring us Owen’s poems.  Not until the final number do all come together for the spine tingling finale.

Due to the huge resources required to stage the War Requiem, this masterly work is not often performed in Bury St Edmunds.  You are advised to book your tickets early.

Tickets £25 and £20 (reserved), and £14 (unreserved)

Booking opens 2 March 2015

Early booking discount £1 off all tickets booked by 18 April 2015