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Details
Great Hall - Goldsmiths College
Lewisham Way
New Cross
London
SE14 6NW
England
Tickets
Prices: £20, £17, £6, £2
Book Tickets
Programme
Benjamin Britten – War Requiem, Op.66
Performers
Clare Caddick – Conductor
Dan Ludford-Thomas – Conductor
Wolfgang Siegenbrink – Conductor
Daniel Tate – baritone
Gwilym Bowen – tenor
Philippa Boyle – soprano
Lewisham Choral Society
Forest Philharmonic Orchestra
The Emerald Choir
KölnChor
Rheinischer Kammerchor Köln
Programme Note
Lewisham Choral Society is proud to present Benjamin Britten’s magnificent War Requiem, one of the choral masterpieces of the 20th Century. This deeply moving work was commissioned for the consecration of Coventry Cathedral in 1962, built to replace the original 14th Century building which was destroyed in World War 2.
Britten, an ardent pacifist and conscientious objector, chose to intersperse the text of the Latin Requiem Mass with the heart-rending anti-war poetry of Wilfred Owen, a soldier who died in battle just one week before the end of World War 1.
The music is electrifying, with punchy rhythms and complex melodic lines. This powerful and poignant work takes us through a gamut of emotions - from its opening sense of foreboding and menace through pity, sorrow and anger culminating in a final moment of tranquility.
A work of this size and complexity requires a vast array of musicians: while the Mass is performed by Lewisham Choral Society, KölnChor and Rheinischer Kammerchor Köln, The Emerald Choir and soprano soloist, the poetry is performed by tenor and baritone soloists. The singers are also accompanied by two orchestras from Forest Philharmonic Orchestra, organist James Orford and no less than three conductors - definitely an event not to be missed.
We welcome three distinguished soloists: Soprano Philippa Boyle has performed extensively on the opera and oratorio stage to great acclaim. In 2025 she made ‘a very impressive [Royal Opera] house debut, vocally and dramatically’ in the world premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s award-winning opera Festen (Critics Circle). She has been praised for her ‘stunning, rich voice in all registers and an unerring sense of pitch.’ (British Music Society). When performing Schoenberg’s Erwartung with Sinfonia Smith Square, she rose ‘magnificently to meet every challenge of the formidably demanding vocal lines; it made for a totally involving experience’. (The Guardian). She is currently performing the role of Ellen Orford in Britten’s Peter Grimes with Opera North, described as ‘an assured role debut’ (Critics Circle) and ‘profoundly moving and rather beautiful’ (Planet Hugill).
Tenor Gwilym Bowen collaborates with major orchestras in the UK, Europe and North America, excelling in both baroque and contemporary repertoire. Recent highlights of his career have included Evangelist in both J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and St Matthew Passion with Music of the Baroque, Chicago, as well as Benjamin Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings with Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto and the War Requiem with Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano. His voice has been described as “vibrant, expressive, agile and dramatic” (Limelight magazine) and as having “astonishing magnetic musicality” (Opera Today).
Daniel Tate, baritone, a lover of English Song, has been praised for the ‘exceptional storytelling’ in his performances. Following a decade with New College Choir, with whom he made many international tours and recordings, he now sings with the renowned Westminster Cathedral Choir, in which role he recently sang Requiem masses for the late Pope Francis both in London and the Vatican and for the late Duchess of Kent in the presence of HM The King. He has performed widely in recitals, oratorios and operas to great acclaim, particularly noted for his interpretation of twentieth century English repertoire and the great oratorios of J.S.Bach.
Lewisham Choral Society is one of London’s most accomplished community choirs with around 150 active members. The choir performs regularly in major venues around the capital, including six highly successful performances at the Royal Festival Hall. The choir has toured abroad to Paris, Berlin and the Netherlands.
Our musical director, Dan Ludford-Thomas, is a conductor, composer and singing teacher working with many organisations around the UK. Dan is Head of Vocal Studies at Dulwich College and directs several choirs. He is Musical Director of the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain and Principal Conductor of vocal group Vox Urbane.
We are delighted to be joined by singers from two choirs from Cologne: the KölnChor and the Rheinischer Kammerchor Köln. We welcome them to the UK, following LCS’s participation in a performance of the War Requiem in Cologne last May.
Their artistic director, Wolfgang Siegenbrink is a widely respected church musician, conductor and choir director and has performed extensively throughout Europe. He has conducted many works across the classical and contemporary choral repertoires ranging from JS Bach to Benjamin Britten.
Emerald Choir, a community ensemble of young singers, performs at a wide range of events. They have appeared at high profile occasions including the BITC conference at the Royal Albert Hall, the BBC Ten Pieces Proms and a recording session for an Aitch album. They have also featured in a Beabadoobee music video, adding to their growing list of creative collaborations. Recent performances include carols at SongEasel recitals with Florian Bosch and shared recital programmes with Roderick Williams, Mark Padmore and Lorena Paz Nieto. The group performing today is drawn from the Chamber Choir at Emerald Music School, based in Beckenham and Addiscombe.
Their director, Clare Caddick is a musician and educator who has led the Emerald Music School since 1998, working with young singers across a wide range of ensembles. She is Vocal Leader for Lewisham Music, contributing to major choral projects at venues including the Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall and Blackheath Halls and supporting music provision in schools across the borough. Clare also directs the Live Voices community choirs and is a trustee of SongEasel, which promotes singing in South London. Her work in musical theatre and opera includes music direction for companies such as Wimbledon Light Opera Society and Surrey Opera and is currently directing the London Concert Chorus.
We are delighted to be joining forces once again with the Forest Philharmonic, one of London’s leading community orchestras, with players drawn from London and the South East. Based in East London for over 50 years, the orchestra has gained an impressive reputation for the high quality and vitality of its performances.
They are joined by prize-winning organist James Orford who has recently taken up the post of Organist at St Paul’s Cathedral. James enjoys a busy performing schedule as a soloist and has given recitals and concerts in many of the UK’s most notable venues including at St Paul’s, Westminster and Liverpool Cathedrals, Westminster Abbey, the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. As an accompanist, James has worked with a vast number of choirs and has also made several recordings.
