Prom 21: A European Requiem & Beethoven, Royal Albert Hall
Sir James MacMillan mourns the death of ever closer union in his musical riposte to Brexit, plus, in his Ninth Symphony, Beethoven’s Ode To Joy
Erin Wall, 2009. Photo: Dan Rest.
James MacMillan’s European Requiem was commissioned by a festival in Oregon before
the Brexit vote, and first performed there in February 2016, but its European premiere at
this Prom will be highly charged, given its theme of a unified Europe.
The Requiem form has been used by composers for centuries, sometimes to mourn an individual, sometimes as a broader lament. Here MacMillan uses the traditional Latin texts, but whereas some composers divide the phrases into separate movements, for example Fauré or Verdi, both of whose Requiems are much-loved works at any time, MacMillan writes them through a single, flowing piece.
‘Latin for me represents the common European language that existed before nationalist barriers were erected,’ he explains. ‘It was the lingua franca used by the European founding fathers… and provided a source of common identity for a millennium and a half, in international relations, education and the sharing of ideas.
Xian Zhang conducts two pieces with unity and humanity at their heart. Photo: Benjamin Ealovega.
‘Setting texts in Latin may now seem counter-cultural to many, but for me it represents the ideal rediscovering of our common heritage.’ Now that common heritage is under threat – there is huge anxiety in the music world about the free movement of performers, and the cost of soloists from overseas has rocketed with the slump in the pound. So MacMillan’s Requiem comes at a pertinent time, in a Proms season with unity as one of its themes.
In the second half of the concert, Beethoven’s mighty Symphony No 9, the Choral symphony, closes with the sung Ode to Joy – anthem of the EU. Xian Zhang conducts the combined forces of the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales and the Chorus of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
The evening boasts a spectacular line-up of soloists, including the Canadian soprano Erin Wall, counter-tenor Iestyn Davies, the South African-born baritone Jacques Imbrailo and the dramatic Russian bass Alexander Vinogradov. A European premiere of work by the leading Scottish composer is always an occasion, but this one promises to be an especially significant event.
General booking opens Saturday 13 May, 9:00.
The Requiem form has been used by composers for centuries, sometimes to mourn an individual, sometimes as a broader lament. Here MacMillan uses the traditional Latin texts, but whereas some composers divide the phrases into separate movements, for example Fauré or Verdi, both of whose Requiems are much-loved works at any time, MacMillan writes them through a single, flowing piece.
‘Latin for me represents the common European language that existed before nationalist barriers were erected,’ he explains. ‘It was the lingua franca used by the European founding fathers… and provided a source of common identity for a millennium and a half, in international relations, education and the sharing of ideas.
Xian Zhang conducts two pieces with unity and humanity at their heart. Photo: Benjamin Ealovega.
‘Setting texts in Latin may now seem counter-cultural to many, but for me it represents the ideal rediscovering of our common heritage.’ Now that common heritage is under threat – there is huge anxiety in the music world about the free movement of performers, and the cost of soloists from overseas has rocketed with the slump in the pound. So MacMillan’s Requiem comes at a pertinent time, in a Proms season with unity as one of its themes.
In the second half of the concert, Beethoven’s mighty Symphony No 9, the Choral symphony, closes with the sung Ode to Joy – anthem of the EU. Xian Zhang conducts the combined forces of the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales and the Chorus of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
The evening boasts a spectacular line-up of soloists, including the Canadian soprano Erin Wall, counter-tenor Iestyn Davies, the South African-born baritone Jacques Imbrailo and the dramatic Russian bass Alexander Vinogradov. A European premiere of work by the leading Scottish composer is always an occasion, but this one promises to be an especially significant event.
General booking opens Saturday 13 May, 9:00.
TRY CULTURE WHISPER
Receive free tickets & insider tips to unlock the best of London — direct to your inbox
| What | Prom 21: A European Requiem & Beethoven, Royal Albert Hall |
| Where | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP | MAP |
| Nearest tube | South Kensington (underground) |
| When |
On 30 Jul 17, 7:00 PM – 9:25 PM |
| Price | £6 - £40 |
| Website | Booking details |