King’s Canterbury – Brahms’ Requiem

25 Apr 2019

The King’s School performance of Brahms’ German Requiem provided the ideal demonstration of the extraordinarily high quality of musicians at the school. The King’s Symphony Orchestra and Chorus more than met the challenge of this beautiful large-scale piece, under the baton of Director of Music, Will Bersey, as a large audience in the Canterbury Cathedral Nave feasted on the rich tones of Brahms’ sumptuous orchestration and choral melodies.

The professional soloists, Marie Arnet and former pupil Tristan Hambleton provided additional musical excellence, their movements played with appropriate warmth and lyricism with a fine balance between soloist and orchestra. The resounding penultimate movement ‘Denn wir haben hie keine bleibende Statt’ was played with great spirit, with the players relishing the composer’s deft writing. The audience showed much appreciation for what was a most moving, exciting and high-quality performance by both soloists, orchestra and choir.

Thanks must be extended to Will Bersey and chorus-master Nick Todd for their enthusiasm and expertise in preparing the musicians for this outstanding concert.