The Full Works Concert – Thursday 3 October: Blitz Requiem
Classic FM exclusively presents the world première of David Goode's Blitz Requiem.
On 26th September, the world premiere of David Goode’s Blitz Requiem, a powerful evocation of Britain’s darkest days, took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
It was performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bach Choir, conducted by David Hill – and the concert was specially recorded for Classic FM.
Poet Francis Warner experienced the Blitz first-hand as a child and his poignant account of his family’s experiences provided the inspiration for renowned organist and composer David Goode. Based on the structure of the Latin Requiem Mass, Goode’s music captures the vivid imagery of Warner’s poetry; haunting images of dead children laid out on their playground, Warner’s mother giving birth under the dining room table in the midst of one of the heaviest bombing raids of the war; air-raid sirens and the all-clear are all portrayed in this imaginative and compelling setting.
Read the full text of the Blitz Requiem here
The Blitz Requiem is the culmination of 10 years of collaboration between poet and composer, whose first choice of choir to stage the world premiere of this momentous work was The Bach Choir – one of the world’s leading choirs and the UK’s only independent large chorus. Drawing together the 200-strong members and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the occasion, Blitz Requiem is the latest milestone in a rich history of notable events for this prestigious choir.
Tonight, you can hear this brand new work for the very first time in an exclusive broadcast on The Full Works Concert.
