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Moving away from the Baroque performances of recent university terms, Britten’s 'War Requiem' is very much a work that captures the spirit of its time and the horrors of war, and this spirit certainly came across in this production led by Seymour.
Commissioned for the reconsecration of Coventry Cathedral after it was destroyed during a WWII air raid in 1940, Britten was given complete freedom in the music to compose, and used this opportunity to publicly declare his pacifism. He settled on the setting of a traditional Latin Mass, with nine poems by the English war poet Wilfred Owen interwoven amongst the six movements, finally completing his work in 1962. In Wednesday’s performance, the six poems were done great justice by the powerful delivery of the soloists, as Owen’s refusal to see honour in war was echoed around the Minster walls.
Featuring a similar set-up to last term’s performance of Haydn’s The Seasons, Seymour conducted a perfected and powerful performance for which the Minster seemed a very suitable venue. The extent of ensemble was demonstrated best during sudden stops when, thanks to the acoustics, an echo of each and every note was heard in unison around the Minster for a few drifting seconds amidst the awe-stricken audience. The horn section was particularly striking.
Ultimately, this moving performance had an impact on all those who attended, even if your view was obscured by one of the Minster’s towering pillars. In such a large and demanding performance the amazing musical talents of York students really are apparent, and all those involved should be pleased and proud of such a wonderful and stirring evening.
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