Britten: War Requiem
University Choir and Symphony Orchestra

• Wednesday 20 June 2018, 7.30PM to 9.10pm
• £25/£20 (Concessions £23/£18) Unreserved £14 (Concessions £12, students £5)
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• York Minster (map)
• Wheelchair accessible

Event details

Marking the centenary of the end of the First World War, the University Choir and Symphony Orchestra present Britten’s searing War Requiem. 

This non-liturgical setting of the Requiem Mass was commissioned for the 1962 consecration of Coventry Cathedral, rebuilt after its destruction in the Second World War. The traditional Latin mass text is interspersed with settings of poems by World War I poet Wilfred Owen. 

Three soloists are joined by chorus, boys’ choir, organ, and full and chamber orchestras.  The latter provides intimate accompaniment to the settings of Owen’s poetry, sung by English tenor James Gilchrist and German baritone Stephan Loges.  Full orchestra is used for the Latin text sung by soprano Catrin Woodruff (a York alumna) and choirs.  All forces come together for the devastating finale.

This event is supported by Evans Property Group, Schroders and Tribal.

About the performers

The University Choir is a chorus of around 250 voices drawn from students and staff of the University of York, as well as the general public from the surrounding area. More information here. 

The University of York Symphony Orchestra is the University’s Department of Music's largest instrumental ensemble. The repertoire includes works by Classical master composers as well as modern compositions. More information here.