Melbourne Symphony Orchestra | War Requiem – Benjamin Britten

April 14,  2023, Hamer Hall, Melbourne

Jaime Martin – conductor

Samantha Clarke – soprano

Toby Spence – tenor

David Greco – baritone

Gondwana voices children’s chorus

MSO chorus

Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem from 1962, composed to commemorate the rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral after the 1940 bombing by the German Luftwaffe, is a most impressive work requiring several hundred musicians. At the premiere Britten was unhappy with the layout of the assembled performers and also the acoustics but I am sure he would have been thrilled with this monumental performance by the MSO and soloists and the vision of conductor Jaime Martin. The music filled every space in Hamer Hall.

Based on a six section Latin Requiem mass interspersed by poetry in English Britten created a most diverse composition using many devices from his previous successful compositions.

At times the music is most delicate and sweetly serene and at other times it can be thrilling in an exaltent way and then it is all militaristic with much banging and impassioned music.

One would be hard pressed to think of a better trio of soloists assembled for this concert. Toby Spence and David Greco, singing the lines of the Great War poet Wilfred Owen, made one feel as if they were themselves combatants on the field of war and when Samantha Clarke sang a dramatic soprano line above the orchestra and the choir singing the Latin mass there was a sense that hope could overcome the futility of war. The children’s choir charmed all and conductor Lyn Williams has a little treasure in these young musicians.

Every section of the orchestra was in fine form, bustling woodwind and brass writing and superb string playing. It must have been difficult for the orchestral musicians to ‘feel and hear’ the on stage ensemble as normal because many of the players were sitting in different places. But the audience would never have known as the sound in the auditorium was both sumptuous and integrated.

Britten’s use of the percussion section stood out in this work, occasionally sweet bell sounds would highlight ethereal choral and solo singing but mostly it was the drums of war that dominated. The MSO percussion section were absolutely brilliant creating a sound picture of a place that I dare not visit.

Conductor Jaime Martin is one who sees a grand picture in the music and coordinates and interprets as if he was a piano recitalist and all the time allowing the musicians space to breathe and letting time itself add weight to the interpretation.

If classikON gave ‘out of five’ stars rating for concerts I would be tempted to give this event the maximum. The audience were so attentive during the 90 minutes straight through performance and after a respectful silence at the conclusion of the work gave the performers a sustained and arousing ovation.