as my ‘Facebook friends’ will know already, I am going to be singing in a revival of John Foulds’ A War Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall, 81 years after its last performance there. Lots more about the composer and his music is available from the links below. Personally I wouldn’t say it is a masterpiece and there are some odd touches in its 90 minute length but I think it would be worth a listen, particularly live so you would get the full impact of the five (!) choruses plus orchestra.
It is probably not too late to get tickets if you are so inclined but if you can’t or won’t make it, it will be on BBC Radio 3 from 18:30 to 20:00 (local time) and streamed live on the Internet. Chandos is also releasing a two CD concert recording (in SACD format in fact if you have a very fancy CD player).
More links than you probably need or want about Foulds follow:
BBC Radio 3 (to hear the concert live)
Telegraph Foulds profile inc. interview with Patrick Foulds (the composer’s son):
Profile of Foulds and his work in the Independent – it’s more colourful and plays up Foulds’ eccentricities.
The head of Radio 3 on Foulds
Simon Heffer (a Telegraph columnist) on Foulds
BBC news short video item about Foulds inc interview with conductor and a very brief clip of the assembled choruses singing.
