Britten's War Requiem | Tonbridge Philharmonic Society

Tonbridge Philharmonic Society is set to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War with a performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem in the beautiful Chapel of St. Augustine at Tonbridge School. Tonbridge Philharmonic’s Choir and Orchestra will be joined by the award-winning Tonbridge Grammar School Motet Choir, alongside the soloists Sofia Troncoso, Bradley Smith and Tristan Hambleton. Conducting the combined forces of over 200 musicians for this memorable occasion, is Matthew Willis.

War Requiem was commissioned for the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral in 1962, and alongside the traditional Latin Mass for the Dead, Britten chose to set nine poems by Wilfred Owen, who died on 4th November 1918, just one week before the Armistice. The concert will begin with a short pre-concert talk on Britten's use of Owen's poetry, and some selected poetry readings.

There will be a retiring collection for the Royal British Legion.