Brahms’s “German Requiem”

After the longest hiatus in its illustrious 135 year history, the South West London Choral Society is back at St Anne's, Wandsworth with a performance of Brahms's German Requiem (sung in the original German).

The German Requiem is the work that made Brahms an internationally renowned name. It is unusual in that the text is comprised of Brahms's favourite bits from the German translation of the bible by Martin Luther, rather than the standard Roman Catholic text, and is one of the more optimistic and reassuring Requiems in the repertoire.

Brahms himself called the work Ein Deutsches Requiem ("A German Requiem"), but later professed, "As regards the title, I could easily have left out 'German' and substituted 'Human'." As such, it is an entirely appropriate work with which to resume the choir's "normal service" after the ravages of the Covid pandemic.

Given the circumstances, there will be no entry fee charged for this performance, although a retiring collection will be taken to raise money for Long Covid Support, a UK-based, not-for-profit organisation committed to championing recognition and rehabilitation for people with Long Covid and facilitating research into the condition. Members of the audience are encouraged to wear face coverings. We thank you for your understanding.