Britten: War Requiem with John Eliot Gardiner | NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra

John Eliot Gardiner conducts Benjamin Britten's War Requiem at the SHMF final concert in Lübeck in 1992. The War Requiem premiered on May 30, 1962 in the rebuilt Coventry Cathedral. The cathedral was largely destroyed during the German bombing of the city of Coventry during World War II. In his almost 90-minute piece, Britten set the Latin text of the fair Missa pro Defunctis to music with poems by the British poet and soldier Wilfred Owen.
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
War Requiem op.66
Requiem aeternam - 00:01
Dies irae 9:45
Offertory 37:30
Sanctus 48:09
Agnus Dei 1:00:07
Libera me 1:04:10
John Eliot Gardiner, conductor
Luba Orgonasova, soprano
Anthony Rolfe Johnson, tenor
Boje Skovhus, baritone
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra
Monteverdi Choir London, mastered by John Eliot Gardiner
NDR choir, rehearsal by Howard Arman
Tölzer Boys' Choir, rehearsed by Gerhard Schmidt-Garden
Recording from the SHMF final concert in 1992, St. Marienkirche in Lübeck
Website: www.ndr.de/eo
Facebook: https: // ndrelbphilha ...
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#ndrelbphilharmonieorchester #johneliotgardiner #benjaminbritten

[@samitobribiesca6320]

NDR ELBPHILARMONIE ORCHESTER , EXTRAORDINAIRE, SIR JOHN ELIOT GARDINER SUPERBE , BENJAMIN BRITTEN A GÉNIE , FASCINANT WAR REQUIEM , CHEF-D'ŒUVRE MERCI PER ÇE PARTAGE !

[@notaire2]

Wunderschöne und tiefempfundene Aufführung dieses größten Requiems im 20. Jahrhundert mit gut harmonisierten Stimmen dreier ausgezeichneten Chöre und herrlichen Stimmen aller genialen Solisten sowie gut vereinigten und perfekt entsprechenden Tönen aller Instrumente. Der unvergleichliche Dirigent leitet das ebenso ausgezeichnete Orchester in verschiedenen Tempi und mit perfekt kontrollierter Dynamik. Alles ist wunderbar!

[@NDRKlassik]

Vielen Dank :)

[@berlinzerberus]

Britten was a great composer indeed, somewhat underrated. I dont know why! - Marvellous performance.

[@metteholm4833]

Britten wasn´t immidiately compelling to most listeners - a bit to the dark side, didn´t "charm" the audience..... but beauty certainly is there in his music.

[@NDRKlassik]

Thank you 😊

[@remomazzetti8757]

He's actually one the most well recorded and performed composers of the 20th century. The problem is that he's known by a relatively small amount of his nearly 100 published works.

[@stoobieman]

In some countries maybe. Not in his own thanfully, this alone sold hundreds of thousands of copies. And he was up against the Beatles!

[@EvandroSchulz]

Britten could produces the tension of the war, the more basics humans feelings about his decisions and values in the face of death in a very dramatic music. This record is fantastic!

[@NDRKlassik]

Thanks!

[@jgesselberty]

The Sanctus is magnificent. The coordination of the choral voices must be amazing.

[@Radiant_Kitten]

I. Requiem Aeternam: 0:01 II. Dies Irae: 09:48 III. Offertorium: 37:04 IV. Sanctus: 48:01 V. Agnus Dei: 59:35 VI. Libera Me: 1:04:04

[@stoobieman]

This is a great, great performance

[@NDRKlassik]

Thank you very much! :)

[@senectutecato3987]

Attended a live performance at Carnegie Hall many years ago. Magnificent

[@ChollieD]

Thanks for posting this. Never heard it before. Choir and orchestra sound terrific. JEG is a master of choral direction, and it really shows here.

[@ChollieD]

(The soloists are really good, as well!)

[@Pavamingo]

Danke, dass Sie das mit uns teilen! Was aber gar nicht geht ist, dass die Solisten weder im Titel noch in der Beschreibung erwähnt werden. Gehe von einem Versehen aus....

[@NDRKlassik]

Vielen Dank für den Hinweis, das ist tatsächlich ein Versehen und wird schnellstmöglich korrigiert.

[@christianebbertz7057]

@@NDRKlassik Vielleicht noch verbessern: Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden, nicht Garden.

[@alanfoster6589]

Britten's greatest composition (my opinion).

[@bobdeverell]

A very beautiful performance, I'm so happy I found it.

[@NDRKlassik]

So happy to hear that!!

[@nevenvaland5618]

Fantastic music!

[@NDRKlassik]

Thank you - much appreciated!

[@JohnSpawn1]

I. Requiem Aeternam: 0:01 *Chorus* Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine; et lux perpetua luceat eis. Lord, grant them eternal rest; and let the perpetual light shine apon them. *Boys* Te decet hymnus, Deus in Sion: et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem; exaudi orationem meam, ad te omnis caro veniet. Thou shalt have praise in Zion, of God: and homage shall be paid to thee in Jerusalem; hear my prayer, all flesh shall come before Thee. *Chorus* Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine; et lux perpetua luceat eis. Lord, grant them eternal rest; and let the perpetual light shine apon them. *Tenor* What passing bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons No mockeries for them from prayers or bells, Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, -- The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires. What candles may be held to speed them at all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes. The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of silent minds, And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. *Chorus* Kyrie eleison Christe eleison Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy upon them Christ, have mercy upon them Lord, have mercy upon them II. Dies Irae: 09:48 *Chorus* Dies irae, dies illa, Solvet saeclum in favilla: Teste David cum Sibylla. Quantus tremor est futurus, Quando Judex est venturus, Cuncta stricte discussurus! Tuba mirum spargens sonum Per sepulchra regionum Coget omnes ante thronum. Mors stupebit et natura, Cum resurget creatura, Judicanti responsura. This day, this day of wrath Shall consume the world in ashes, As foretold by David and Sibyl. What trembling there shall be When the judge shall come To weigh everything strictly. The trumpet, scattering its awful sound Across the graves of all lands Summons all before the throne. Death and nature shall be stunned When mankind arises To render account before the judge. *Baritone* Bugles sang, saddening the evening air; And bugles answered, sorrowful to hear. Voices of boys were by the river-side. Sleep mothered them; and left the twilight sad. The shadow of the morrow weighed on men. Voices of old despondency resigned, Bowed by the shadow of the morrow, slept. *Soprano* Liber scriptus proferetur, In quo totum continetur, Unde mundus judicetur. Judex ergo cum sedebit Quidquid latet, apparebut: Nil inultum remanebit. The written book shall be brought In which all is contained Whereby the world shall be judged. When the judge takes his seat All that is hidden shall appear: Nothing will remain unavenged. *Chorus* Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronem rogaturus, Cum vix justus sit securus? What shall I, a wretch, say then? To which protector shall I appeal When even the just man is barely safe? *Soprano and Chorus* Rex tremendae majestatis, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Salva me, fons pietatis. King of awful majesty, Who freely savest those worthy of salvation, Save me, fount of pity. *Tenor and Baritone* Out there, we've walked quite friendly up to Death: Sat down and eaten with him, cool and bland,- Pardoned his spilling mess-tins in our hand. We've sniffed the green thick odour of his breath,- Our eyes wept, but our courage didn't writhe. He's spat at us with bullets and he's coughed Shrapnel. We chorused when he sang aloft; We whistled while he shaved us with his scythe. Oh, Death was never enemy of ours! We laughed at him, we leagued with him, old chum. No soldier's paid to kick against his powers. We laughed, knowing that better men would come, And greater wars; when each proud fighter brags He wars on Death - for Life; not men - for flags. *Chorus* Recordare Jesu pie, Quod sum causa tuae viae: Ne me perdas illa die. Quarens me, sedisti lassus: Redemisti crucem passus: Tantus labor non sit cassus: Ingemisco, tamquam reus: Culpa rubet vultus meus: Supplicanti parce Deus. Qui Mariam absolvisti, Et latronem exaudisti, Mihi quoque spem dedisti. Inter oves locum praesta, Et ab haedis me sequestra, Statuens in parte dextra. Confutatis maledictis, Flammis acribus addictis, Voca me cum benedictis. Oro supplex et acclinis Cor contritum quasi cinis Gere curam mei finis. Remember, gentle Jesus, That I am the reason for Thy time on earth, Do not cast me out on that day. Seeking me, Thou didst sink down wearily, Thou hast saved me by enduring the cross, Such travail must not be in vain. I groan, like the sinner that I am, Guilt reddens my face, Oh God spare the supplicant. Thou, who pardoned Mary And heeded the thief, Hast given me hope as well. Give me a place among the sheep And separate me from the goats, Let me stand at Thy right hand. When the damned are cast away And consigned to the searing flames, Call me to be with the blessed. Bowed down in supplication I beg Thee, My heart as though ground to ashes: Help me in my last hour. *Baritone* Be slowly lifted up, thou long black arm, Great gun towering toward Heaven, about to curse; Reach at that arrogance which needs thy harm, And beat it down before its sins grow worse; But when thy spell be cast complete and whole, May God curse thee, and cut thee from our soul! *Chorus* Dies irae, dies illa, Solvet saeclum in favilla: Teste David cum Sibylla. Quantus tremor est futurus, Quando Judex est venturus, Cuncta stricte discussurus! This day, this day of wrath Shall consume the world in ashes, As foretold by David and Sibyl. What trembling there shall be When the judge shall come To weigh everything strictly. *Soprano and Chorus* Lacrimosa dies illa, Qua resurget ex favilla, Judicandus homo reus: Huic ergo parce Deus. Oh this day full of tears When from the ashes arises Guilty man, to be judges: Oh Lord, have mercy upon him. *Tenor* Move him into the sun - Gently its touch awoke him once, At home, whispering of fields unsown. Always it woke him, even in France, Until this morning and this snow. If anything might rouse him now The kind old sun will know. *Soprano and Chorus* Lacrimosa dies illa... Oh this day full of tears... *Tenor* Think how it wakes the seeds - Woke, once, the clays of a cold star. Are limbs, so dear-acheived, are sides, Full-nerved - still warm - too hard to stir? Was it for this the clay grew tall? *Soprano and Chorus* ...Qua resurget ex favilla... ...When from the ashes arises... *Tenor* Was it for this the clay grew tall? *Soprano and Chorus* ...Judicandus homo reus. ...Guilty man, to be judged. *Tenor* - O what made fatuous sunbeams toil To break earth's sleep at all? *Chorus* Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem. Amen. Gentle Lord Jesus, grant them rest. Amen. III. Offertorium: 37:04 *Boys* Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de poenis inferni, et de profundo lacu: libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum. Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of the faithful departed from the pains of hell, and the bottomless pit: deliver them from the jaw of the lion, lest hell engulf them, lest they be plunged into darkness. *Chorus* Sed signifer sanctus Michael repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam: Quam olim Abrahae promisisti, et semini ejus. But let the holy standard-bearer Michael lead them into the holy light as Thou didst promise Abraham and his seed. *Tenor and Baritone* So Abram rose, and clave the wood, and went, And took the fire with him, and a knife. And as they sojourned both of them together, Isaac the first-born spake and said, My Father, Behold the preparations, fire and iron, But where the lamb for this burnt-offering? Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps, And builded parapets and trenched there, And streched forth the knife to slay his son. When lo! and angel called him out of heaven, Saying, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, Neither do anything to him. Behold, A ram, caught in a thicket by its horns; Offer the Ram of Pride instead of him. But the old man would not so, but slew his son, - And half the seed of Europe, one by one. *Boys* Hostias et preced tibi Domine laudis offerimus; tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus: fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam. Quam olim Abrahae promisisti en semini ejus. Lord, in praise we offer to Thee sacrifices and prayers, do Thou receive them for the souls of those whom we remember this day: Lord, make them pass from death to life. As Thou didst promise Abraham and his seed. *Chorus* ...Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini ejus. ...As Thou didst promise Abraham and his seed. IV. Sanctus: 48:01 *Soprano and Chorus* Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Saboath. Pleni sunt ceoli et terra gloria tua, Hosanna in excelsis. Sanctus. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis. Sanctus. Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Holy. Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Holy. *Baritone* After the blast of lighning from the East, The flourish of loud clouds, the Chariot Throne; After the drums of time have rolled and ceased, And by the bronze west long retreat is blown, Shall life renew these bodies? Of a truth All death will He annul, all tears assuage? - Fill the void veins of Life again with youth, And wash, with an immortal water, Age? When I do ask white Age he saith not so: "My head hangs weighed with snow." And when I hearken to the Earth, she saith: "My fiery heart shrinks, aching. It is death. Mine ancient scars shalls not be glorified, Nor my titanic tears, the sea, be dried." (continued in 2nd comment...)

[@JohnSpawn1]

V. Agnus Dei: 59:35 *Tenor* One ever hangs where shelled roads part. In this war He too lost a limb, But His disciples hide apart; And now the Soldiers bear with Him. *Chorus* Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest. *Tenor* Near Golgatha strolls many a priest, And in their faces there is pride That they were flesh-marked by the Beast By whom the gentle Christ's denied. *Chorus* Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest. *Tenor* The scribes on all the people shove and bawl allegiance to the state, *Chorus* Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi... Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world... *Tenor* But they who love the greater love Lay down their life; they do not hate. *Chorus* ...Dona eis requiem. ...Grant them rest. *Tenor* Dona nobis pacem. VI. Libera Me: 1:04:04 *Chorus* Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna, in die illa tremenda: Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra: Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem. Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death in that awful day when the heavens and earth shall be shaken when Thou shalt come to judge the world by fire. *Soprano and Chorus* Tremens factus sum ego, et timeo dum discussio venerit, atque ventura ira. Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna. Quando coeli movendi sunt i terra. Dies illa, dies irae, calamitatis et miseriae, dies magna et amara valde. Libera me, Domine. I am seized with fear and trembling, until the trial shall be at hand and the wrath to come. Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death. When the heavens and earth shall be shaken. That day, that day of wrath, of calamity and misery, a great day and exceeding bitter. Deliver me, O Lord. *Tenor* It seems that out of battle I escaped Down some profound dull tunnel, long since scooped Through granites which titanic wars had groined. Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned, Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred. Then, as I probed them, one sprang up, and stared With piteous recognition in fixed eyes, Lifting distressful hands as if to bless. And no guns thumped, or down the flues made moan. "Strange friend," I said, "here is no cause to mourn." *Baritone* "None", said the other, "save the undone years, The hopelessness. Whatever hope is yours, Was my life also; I went hunting wild After the wildest beauty in the world, For by my glee might many men have laughed, And of my weeping something had been left, Which must die now. I mean the truth untold, The pity of war, the pity war distilled. Now men will go content with what we spoiled. Or, discontent, boil boldly, and be spilled. They will be swift with swiftness of the tigress, None will break ranks, though nations trek from progress. Miss we the march of this retreating world Into vain citadels that are not walled. Then, when much blood had clogged their chariot-wheels I would go up and wash them from sweet wells, Even from wells we sunk too deep for war, Even from the sweetest wells that ever were. I am the enemy you killed, my friend. I knew you in this dark; for so you frowned Yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed. I parried; but my hands were loath and cold. Let us sleep now..." *Boys, then Chorus, then Soprano* In paridisum deducant te Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere aeternam habeas requiem. Into Paradise may the Angels lead thee: at thy coming may the Martyrs receive thee, and bring thee into the holy city Jerusalem. May the Choir of Angels receive thee and with Lazarus, once poor, may thou have eternal rest. *Boys* Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Lord, grant them eternal rest, and let the perpetual light shine upon them. *Chorus* In paridisum deducant te Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere aeternam habeas requiem. Into Paradise may the Angels lead thee: at thy coming may the Martyrs receive thee, and bring thee into the holy city Jerusalem. May the Choir of Angels receive thee and with Lazarus, once poor, may thou have eternal rest. *Soprano* Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere aeternam habeas requiem. May the Choir of Angels receive thee and with Lazarus, once poor, may thou have eternal rest. *Tenor and Baritone* Let us sleep now. *Chorus* Requiescant in pace. Amen. Let them rest in peace. Amen.

[@deborahapter3274]

An incredible masterpiece!!!!

[@christophrhein3314]

Die Lübecker Marienkirche bietet eine zuweilen zwiespältige Akustik. Wer des sfrorzato fortissimo im Libera Me kennt, weiß daß dieser g-Moll-Akkord etwa fünf Sekunden die Chorstimen übertönen sollte, um das Verlorensein des Kriegers angesichts des Jüngsten Gerichts zu verdeutlichen, es sei denn es kann Versöhnung zum Frieden geben. Persönlich kann ich sagen: Es könnte bei entsprechender Akustlik auch einem erfahrenen Chorsänger die Stimme verschlagen...dennoch ein ewiges "Vergelt's Gott" für dieses Mahnmal zum Frieden gerade in dieser Zeit!

[@PatAcct]

Danke schön NDR

[@tedwilks]

Vielen Dank für das Hochladen dieser Leistung! Bitte teilen Sie den Zuschauern die Namen der Sopranistin und des Baritons mit. Danke schön.

[@NDRKlassik]

Wir danken fürs Zuhören! :) Die Solisten sind Luba Orgaonasova (Sopran), Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Tenor) und Boje Skovhus (Bariton). Sie finden diese Angaben auch immer im Beschreibungstext.

[@tedwilks]

​@@NDRKlassik Vielen Dank für die Informationen!

[@ruicao9805]

So nice!

[@NDRKlassik]

:)

[@karen-qm7og]

The Basler Bach Chor will be performing this tremendous work in November 2023 in Basel, for all Swiss viewers here :-)

[@povillon1]

The most important musical work of the 20th century according to Dimitri Chostakovich

[@richardloffill9970]

Klasse , ausgezeichnet NDR

[@NDRKlassik]

Vielen Dank! Es ist uns ein Vergnügen - besonders, wenn wir solche Schätze aus dem Archiv holen können! 🌟🌟🌟

[@CaptainSpyro]

Question: was the pipe organ used for this recording? I know it’s listed as ad-lib on the score and can be easily missed, but when added it just really completed that part in the Libera Me!

[@NDRKlassik]

Yes, the organ was used in this concert.

[@1968KWT]

Premiered #otd in 1962 🌺🌺🌺

[@JWP452]

I've always thought this was the great modern requiem.

[@miguelitomartia]

Anthony Rolfe-Johnson: Dios lo tenga en la gloria.

[@trongdung1306]

May I cut the Lacrimosa part out and repost it on my channel? I just want to add the Eng subtitle

[@NDRKlassik]

No, sorry, that's not allowed. The material is subject to copyright and belongs to NDR.

[@trongdung1306]

@@NDRKlassik Is putting it in private ok?

[@NDRKlassik]

That is not allowed. We own the rights to the video and the work may not be changed or uploaded by others.

[@NDRKlassik]

No, see the answer above.

[@metteholm4833]

6.29 - who is that wonderful tenor?

[@NDRKlassik]

It is Anthony Rolfe Johnson :)

[@andrewnguyen1890]

6:29

[@UrsulaGörgen]

Stark

[@special203]

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, post Missa solemnis too, please

[@NDRKlassik]

We would love to! We'll see, if we can find it (and have the rights to publish it ...).

[@UrsulaGörgen]

Stimmt

[@lusamakunts]

1,2,5 часть

[@hrh4961]

Correcting the stupidity of not including the soloists: Luba Orgonasova, soprano; Anthony Rolfe Johnson, tenor; Boje Skovhus, baritone.

[@NDRKlassik]

If you had clicked on ", more" you would have found all of them.

[@hrh4961]

@@NDRKlassik I did. THEY, THE SOLOISTS, ARE NOT THERE.

[@NDRKlassik]

You are absolutely right and we are very sorry. The soloists were previously only mentioned in the German caption - we have now adapted this to the English caption. Thanks for the hint.

[@giampieroaudino7318]

Meglio che Gardiner faccia altro.

[@carolapinkertgreatawakenin5653]

Ich höre leider nix 😄

[@LitoGonzalezOtero]

Despois de escoitar isto,non teño ningunha dúbida:o ceo (ou o inferno) estan na terra.