Was a requiem

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The War Requiem op. 66 is a composition by Benjamin Britten . It premiered on May 30, 1962 in the rebuilt Coventry Cathedral , the previous building of which was largely destroyed during the German bombing of Coventry in the Second World War during the Battle of Britain .

"My subject is war, and the pity of war,
The poetry is in the pity ...
All a poet can do today is warn. "
“My topic is war and the suffering of war.
Poetry lies in suffering ...
All a poet can do today is warn. "
Words from Wilfred Owen; placed by Benjamin Britten as a prelude to the score.

The composition of the work includes soprano , tenor and baritone soloists, a boys' choir , a mixed choir , chamber orchestra and symphony orchestra . The Russian soprano Galina Vishnevskaya , the English tenor Peter Pears and the German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau were scheduled as soloists for the premiere . With the choice of these soloists Britten also intended to indicate the reconciliation between the peoples who had previously warred. Galina Vishnevskaya did not get an exit permit from the Soviet government, so she had to be replaced at short notice by the Northern Irish singer Heather Harper . However, Galina Vishnevskaya was allowed to participate in the first record recording, which was made in January 1963 under the composer's direction.

The oratorio -like composition combines the Latin text of the Missa pro Defunctis with English-language poems by Wilfred Owen (* 1893; fallen 1918). The liturgy texts are performed by the solo soprano, the choirs and the symphony orchestra. The English poetry texts are sung by the two male soloists, accompanied by a 12-piece chamber orchestra. In the world premiere, Meredith Davies conducted the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra , and the composer conducted the Melos Ensemble .

Despite the large-scale cast and the performance of around 90 minutes, the War Requiem is not a bombastic piece, but largely a work of silent mourning and memory of the war dead. It is considered one of the composer's major works.

The dedication of the War Requiem reads:

In loving memory of - In memory of
Roger Burney, Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Piers Dunkerley, Captain, Royal Marines
David Gill, Ordinary Seaman, Royal Navy
Michael Halliday, Lieutenant, Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve

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