Cantata Academica

The Cantata Academica op. 62 (subtitled Carmen Basiliense ) is a cantata for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra by the British composer Benjamin Britten . It was written in 1959 as a commission for the 500th anniversary of the University of Basel . Paul Sacher commissioned Britten to compose the anniversary composition in October 1958, after Igor Stravinsky and Paul Hindemith had previously canceled for reasons of time.

Under Sacher's direction, the work was premiered by the Basel Chamber Choir , the Sterk Private Choir and the reinforced Basel Chamber Orchestra on July 1, 1960 in Basel  . The soloists were Agnes Giebel (soprano), Elsa Cavelti (alto), Britten's partner Peter Pears (tenor) and Heinz Rehfuss (bass).

The cantata is divided into thirteen movements; its Latin text by Bernhard Wyss is based on old Basel texts and the founding document of the university. A performance lasts around 20 minutes. A live recording of the premiere has been handed down as a historical recording; the work was also recorded and published under the direction of the composer by the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Chorus on Decca Records .