War Requiem

Bath Choral Society joins with City of Bath Bach Choir, Braunschweiger Domchor and the Chorister of Bristol Cathedral to perform Britten - War Requiem  in Braunschweig and Bristol

This concert of reconciliation is one of a number of events, locally and nationally that mark 60 years since D-day, VE-day and various events during the culmination of the second great war in Europe.

Twinning of Bath and Braunschweig
The cities have been twinned since very soon after the end of the war and the association was important in healing the effects of the war years. Both cities having suffered major bombing raids.

Peace Column
Local artsists Pete and Pat Panton supported by funds raised by the Bath choirs have produced a Peace Column that was presented to the people of Braunschweig during the joint concerts there. The column will be consecrated in Bath Abbey in September.

War Requiem Concerts in Braunschweig
15th and 16th October 2004 on the days either side of a massive bombing raid on the city. the Domchor was joined by a party of 50 voices from the Bath choirs. 

Exhibition in Central Library
An exhibition in the Central Library, Bath on 25-30 October displayed items and memories related to local aspects of the war in Bath and Braunschweig and relating to the War poets and to Britten's great Requiem , Details

War Requiem Concert in Bristol
On October 30th a group of voices from the Braunschweig Domchor returned the honour and sang the Requiem with the Bath choirs in the Colston Hall, Bristol .

Commissioned for the consecration of Coventry Cathedral in 1962 this work employs undeniable drama and tension, its message is universal and timeless and the music is sublime containing passages of great tenderness and lyricism.  The Latin Requiem liturgy is combined with nine poems by Wilfred Owen, killed in action just before the 1918 armistice. Requiring huge musical forces, Britten’s War Requiem is an eminently suitable work for this commemorative concert.