Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem

‘Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.’ With this opening line Brahms moves away from the traditional Catholic funeral mass, using his own selected German text to bring solace to the living.

Brahms combines choruses of great melodic beauty and telling splendour combine with moving solo passages for soprano and baritone in one of the greatest and most-loved works of the choral repertoire. It is inspiring and uplifting music that reminds us that even in the most troubled of times there is hope and even joy.

Also on the programme is Mendelssohn’s timelessly elegant portrait of Scotland’s rugged beauty and Hear My Prayer, his anthem for soprano and chorus, famous for its sweetly serene melody O for the Wings of a Dove.

In tonight's performance Richard Cooke conducts the Royal Choral Society and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields with two outstanding soloists, Verity Wingate, soprano and Jerome Knox, baritone.