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Britten's War Requiem from Coventry

Marking Armistice Day, Benjamin Britten鈥檚 choral masterpiece War Requiem comes live from Coventry Cathedral, where it was first performed 65 years ago.

Marking Armistice Day, Benjamin Britten鈥檚 War Requiem is performed live with an international line-up of soloists and choruses alongside the orchestra which gave the work鈥檚 first performance, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kazuki Yamada. It was composed for the opening of the new Coventry Cathedral in 1962 following the city鈥檚 devastation from wartime aerial bombing. Britten combines a setting of the Latin Mass for the Dead with the poetry of First World War poet Wilfred Owen to create a choral masterpiece of poignant and powerful effect.

Presented by Mark Forrest, live from Coventry Cathedral.

Benjamin Britten: War Requiem

Olga Peretyatko (soprano)
Andrew Staples (tenor)
Christian Gerhaher (baritone)
CBSO Chorus
CBSO Youth Chorus
Trinity Boys' Choir
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Kazuki Yamada (conductor)

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Release date:

2 hours, 14 minutes

On radio

Wed 11 Nov 2026 19:30

Broadcast

  • Wed 11 Nov 2026 19:30