Rossen Milanov, Conductor
Abigail Rethwisch, soprano
Jonathan Burton, tenor
Andrew Garland, baritone
Columbus Symphony Chorus
Stephen Caracciolo, chorus director
Columbus Children’s Chorus
Jeanne Wohlgamuth, director
Britten: War Requiem
Experience Benjamin Britten’s powerful War Requiem, a testament to Britten’s lifelong pacifism. This massive work is scored for full symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, three soloists, choir, boys’ choir, and organ, with texts from the Latin Requiem Mass and anti-war poems by Wilfred Owen, an English soldier killed in battle during World War I. Written for the reconsecration of the Coventry Cathedral, a monument destroyed during World War II, the War Requiem was premiered in 1962.
This concert is dedicated to the memory of Mark and Annie Bates by their loving family: Deborah, Hiroshi, Ken, Bryan, and Emily Yoshino.
In honor of Memorial Day weekend, the spirit of remembrance and reflection extends beyond the stage. Join us in the lobbies of the Ohio Theatre prior to the concert as we welcome the National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM) for a special interactive experience. Throughout the evening, explore powerful recorded poetry from veterans, try on authentic military gear, and take part in meaningful family-friendly activities like writing letters to those who have served. With hands-on exhibits and special offers to visit the museum, this collaboration invites audiences of all ages to engage with the stories and sacrifices behind the music.
“Performing the War Requiem invites us all into a liminal space where we can consider peace through reconciliation as an alternative to going to battle within ourselves and with those around us. Every time I hear these words from Wilfred Owen juxtaposed against the Mass for the Dead they convict me; ‘I am the enemy you killed, my friend.’ What I hear is a call to action, a reminder from the past that the future doesn’t need to come to that. It is not too late to choose a different path as a society, in our relationships, and with our own self-actualization.” -Ernest Hoffman, Columbus Symphony Chorus, Tenor II
