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Brahms: A German Requiem

London Concert Choir

,Barbican Hall
Mark Forkgen conducting

Two ultimately hopeful works by young composers contrast the trials of human life with the fulfilment achieved at death.

Brahms wrote the German Requiem, one of the truly great choral masterworks, not as a Mass for the Dead, but to comfort the living. He himself chose texts from Luther’s translation of the Bible contrasting the transience of human life with the everlasting nature of God and the joy of the world to come. Partly inspired by the death of the young composer’s mother, the Requiem evolved over a period of twelve years and was completed in 1868, when Brahms was 36.

Richard Strauss was only 25 when he composed his orchestral tone poem about an elderly man whose journey through life and struggle with death end in peace as his soul finally achieves perfection. On his own deathbed 60 years later, Strauss remarked, “Dying is just as I composed it.”

Tagged with: Classical music

Promoted by London Concert Choir

Programme

  • R Strauss   Death and Transfiguration
  • Brahms   A German Requiem

Performers

  • London Concert Choir with Canticum  
  • Southbank Sinfonia  
  • Claire Seaton   soprano
  • Thomas Humphreys   baritone

Barbican Hall

Location
The Barbican Hall is located within the main Barbican building. Head to Level G and follow the signs to find your seating level. 

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
​​​​​​​The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.