Credits:

Philharmonie Orchestra

Description:

First sound recording of the world premiere performance at Coventry Cathedral in May 1962. A spectacular historical moment, performed by Britten himself! It is a well-known historical fact that the first performance of Britten's masterpiece "War Requiem" was given at Coventry, which was devastated by the German bombing during World War II. However, until now, this performance has only been reported in written form, and no recording has ever been released. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Britten's birth, the British label Testament is once again releasing a recording of overwhelming historical value. Britten's message in this work is profound, and his strong will for lasting peace has continued to move all who hear it. The message is not merely a condemnation of inhumane attacks by enemy nations, nor does it turn away from the fact that the Christian Church authorities and British government officials who commissioned the work "sent young men into battle. The composition of the traditional requiem text from the Christian church with the poems of Owen, a young war poet who was dispersed on the battlefield, is an expression of all of these facts. The premiere of a major work is usually accompanied by a great deal of tension, and the tension of the concert, which included such a message and invited soloists from belligerent countries, was immeasurable.Certainly, some performance errors and lapses can be heard, but you can tell that both the performers and the audience were present at the very moment of the performance with a truly epic resolve. This is a miraculous recording that captures a true "historical moment. Japanese translation of the liner notes is included only for products distributed in Japan.