The Norwich Philharmonic, conducted by Matthew Andrews and Ashley Grote with soloists James Gilchrist, Lee Bissett and Morgan Pearse, perform Benjamin Britten's War Requiem to mark its 50th anniversary.
Norwich Philharmonic are performing Benjamin Britten's War Requiem at The Halls on Saturday 7 November, and it's a big one. The concert marks the 50th anniversary of Britten's death, and it's also the opening night of the orchestra's 2026-27 season.
If you're not familiar with the War Requiem, it's one of the most substantial works of the 20th century. Britten was born in East Anglia and spent much of his life closely associated with Norwich, so there's a real local connection to the music. The piece is a massive undertaking, and the Philharmonic has a history with it in the county: they performed it back in 2013 as part of Familiar Fields, the centenary celebrations they organised across Norfolk. This is a return to it, and as the season opener, it's the big statement they're starting with.
On the podium are conductors Matthew Andrews and Ashley Grote, and the soloists are James Gilchrist on tenor, Lee Bissett on soprano, and Morgan Pearse on baritone. The War Requiem is a huge work that brings together an orchestra, a full choir, and a smaller chamber ensemble, so there's a lot of ground to cover in one evening.
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It's on Saturday 7 November at The Halls, the first performance of the new season. You can find tickets and more details at the venue's website: https://www.norwich.gov.uk/thehalls/norwich-philharmonic-brittens-war-requiem.
