Released on 11 Feb 2010 The eagerly anticipated world première of Bob Chilcott’s Requiem took place on Saturday 13th March 2010The eagerly anticipated world première of Bob Chilcott’s Requiem took place at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford on Saturday 13th March 2010, performed by The Oxford Bach choir and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Cleobury. This was followed by the London première on 16th March at Cadogan Hall and its US première in Texas on 21st March. Commissioned jointly by the Oxford Bach Choir, Music at Oxford, Oxford University Press and the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas; Bob Chilcott follows on from the success of his Salisbury Vespers (premiered May 2009) by further exploring the large-scale liturgical genre in this 35 minute work for SATB choir, soprano and tenor soloists and classical orchestra.
This reflective and sonorous new work is a stunning addition to the canon of previous settings of the traditional Requiem, in which he gives a new slant to the standard texts of the Missa Pro Defunctis being at times momentous and solemn; yet at others, inspiring and uplifting. He also includes a beautiful, sensitive setting of "Thou knowest, Lord" from the Book of Common Prayer’s service of the Burial of the Dead.
This significant Requiem setting, by one of today’s best-loved composers, is suitable for both church service and concert performance. The orchestra mirrors that of Beethoven’s Mass in C and therefore these two pieces programme well together.
The piece was published on sale by Oxford University Press on 1st April 2010
Bob Chilcott: Requiem vocal score details
A unique opportunity for choral singers to rehearse this new work with Bob Chilcott.
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