Britten War Requiem
6th March 2027, 4pm, Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden
Programme:
Britten War Requiem
Duration: 1hr25
Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra
Cambridge Philharmonic Chorus
Children’s Chorus (TBC)
Soprano Francesca Chiejina
Tenor Mark LeBrocq
Baritone Dominic Sedgwick
Conductor Harry Sever
The orchestra’s first Saffron Hall concert of the season is Britten’s towering post-war masterpiece, the War Requiem. Featuring the poetry of Wilfred Owen interspersed among the traditional Latin mass, this monumental work has rightly gained a reputation as one of the twentieth century’s most important musical and political statements.
Set for huge forces – soloists, chorus, two orchestras, offstage children’s chorus and organ, bells and huge brass fanfares – this staggering piece continues to shock and move audiences, over half a century after its iconic premiere in the rebuilt Coventry Cathedral.
Guest performers
British baritone Dominic Sedgwick is fast establishing himself as a singer with unique vocal colour and physical dynamism.
The 2026/27 season sees Dominic make his role debut as the Traveller (and other multi roles) in Death in Venice in Italy for Teatro Grande di Brescia, Teatro Sociale di Como, Teatro Fraschini Pavia, amongst others. He sings Adonis in Venus and Adonis with Le Banquet Céleste. Future seasons see him debut at Opéra de Dijon, Opéra d’Avignon and Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg.
His recent roles include Mercurio La Calisto for Festival d’Aix-en-Provence and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées; Ned Keene Peter Grimes for Welsh National Opera; Count Danilo in The Merry Widow for the Buxton International Festival; Robin Oakapple Ruddigore for Opera North; Schaunard La bohème for Orchestre National Montpellier; Sid Albert Herring for Opera North; Marullo Rigoletto and English Clerk in David McVicar’s new production of Death in Venice for the Royal Opera; Belcore L’elisir d’amore for Opéra National de Bordeaux; Anthony in Giorgio Battistelli’s Julius Caesar for Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and Melot in a new production of Tristan und Isolde for the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.
Recent concert engagements have included Dr Falke Die Fledermaus for Bremen Musikfest; Marullo Rigoletto and Duphol La Traviata with Le Cercle de l’Harmonie at the Philharmonie de Paris; Second Apprentice Wozzeck with London Philharmonic Orchestra; Beethoven’s Mass in C with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic/Matthew Halls; Bach’s Johannes Passion with Tampere Philharmonic/Matthew Halls and Messiah with Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra/Bernard Labadie and the RLPO/Sofi Jeannin.
Dominic was a member of the RBO Jette Parker Artists Programme 2017-2019. He studied at Clare College, Cambridge and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Robert Dean.
Tickets
Tickets: £33.00, £28.00, £22.00, £15.00 PLUS booking fee via the Saffron Hall Box office. (not yet on sale)
(student concessions and free essential companions tickets available)
Pre-bookable programme £2
Please note that tickets are purchased on a non-refundable basis.
Access: The building is fully accessible to wheelchair users, with wheelchair / companion seating ramps and accessible toilet facilities. Click HERE to find out more.
Essential companion tickets
Saffron hall offers free Essential Companion tickets to anyone who is not able to attend the Hall without the full-time assistance of a carer or companion. Please let them know whether you are eligible for this free ticket when you book.
Getting to Saffron hall
Photo Credits throughout: Bill Hiskett Photography