Benjamin Britten’s 'War Requiem' unites Liverpool and Hannover, both UNESCO Cities of Music

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Benjamin Britten’s 'War Requiem' unites Liverpool and Hannover, both UNESCO Cities of Music

Thursday 9 August 2018

· Conductor Andrew Manze unites hundreds of musicians and choristers from Britain and Germany in two performances of Britten’s masterpiece

· War Requiem will be performed in the awe-inspiring Liverpool Cathedral, the day before Remembrance Sunday; and in Hannover’s Kuppelsaal the week before

· Britten drew on the poems of World War One war poet, Wilfred Owen fused with traditional Latin texts in the work

· Liverpool concert part of the city’s 2018 Brittle Heart season, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One

The day before Remembrance Sunday which this year will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, 300 musicians from the combined forces of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, Choristers of Liverpool Cathedral, , NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, Knabenchor Hannover, and a team of world-class soloists come together in the awe-inspiring space of Liverpool Cathedral to perform Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem (10 Nov).

It is preceded the week before by a performance in Hannover’s Kuppelsaal with 470 musicians, and choristers drawn from the Liverpool and Hannover orchestras and choirs.

War Requiem has become one of great works of the 20th Century, and of all British music, a timeless and profoundly moving exploration of man’s inhumanity to man.

Britten intended the work as a gesture of reconciliation and in that spirit it was Andrew Manze, recently announced as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor, and Principal Conductor of NDR Radiophilharmonie, who invited the orchestras and choristers of the two UNESCO Cities of Music to unite to mark this significant historical anniversary with Britten’s universal work.

On the title page of the score, Britten quoted war poet Wilfred Owen, who grew up in Birkenhead and was killed in action in 1918, aged 25 ‘My subject is war and the pity of war.’ Britten drew on Owen’s poems, fused with the traditional Latin texts throughout the work.

On performing Britten’s War Requiem in Hannover and Liverpool, conductor Andrew Manze said:

‘Over the last few years I have got to know the players and singers of Liverpool and Hannover very well and I find that they have a lot in common both as musicians and as warm, caring human beings. For me, uniting these great musical forces from Britain and Germany has profound symbolism as once hostile countries rehearsing and performing Britten’s landmark War Requiem together in two UNESCO Cities of Music.

'Both Wilfred Owen and Britten were pacifists, raging against man’s inhumanity to man. Whilst war and conflict continues around us today, War Requiem resonates as powerfully as ever as a sign of reconciliation, bringing us together to hear great music that moves us and challenges us to think of the impacts of our actions at a time of remembrance. So I have a strong instinct that these concerts will be special, memorable events in the lives of all the participants and listeners.’

Liverpool 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of Liverpool’s memorable year as European Capital of Culture. It looks to the future with a year-long programme which celebrates the city’s culture and creativity, including the Brittle Heart season of concerts and events, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Saturday 3 November 8pm

Kuppelsaal Hannover (no interval) *

Saturday 10 November 7.30pm (no interval)

Liverpool Cathedral

Tickets at www.liverpoolphil.com

Britten War Requiem

Andrew Manze conductor

Susanne Bernhard soprano

Ed Lyon tenor

Benjamin Appl baritone

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir

Choristers of Liverpool Cathedral Choir

Knabenchor Hannover

Bachchor Hannover *

Mädchenchor Hannover *

Junges Vokalensemble Hannover *

*Hannover performance only

ENDS

Further information from Jayne Garrity, Head of Communications, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic: 0151 210 3791 / 07967 364241 jayne.garrity@liverpoolphil.com

National Press Enquiries:

Simon Millward, Director, Albion Media: 020 3077 4940 / 07990 507310

simon@albionmedia.com