Jonathan Nott: Britten's War Requiem at the Liceu

Some works transcend being merely heard; they are breathed, endured. Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem is one of these creations, designed to open a lucid wound in global consciousness. With this piece, Jonathan Nott begins his tenure as principal conductor at the Liceu.

Nott, renowned for analytical clarity, unites precision and transcendence in a monumental score. His perspective: Britten composes not a requiem for the dead, but for the living. A meticulous yet dramatically resonant gesture, where solemn Latin liturgy intertwines with the devastating poems of Wilfred Owen, a poet fallen in World War I. The Liceu transforms into a resonant temple.

Three worlds converge. The massive choir embodies the voice of the people. The fragile, luminous children's choir represents a promise of the future. The soloists convey the intimate drama of the individual. The War Requiem offers no easy solace. Britten engages fallen enemies, exposes the fragility of certainties. It reminds us that war, in any form, leaves only devastation. Yet, a light flickers through: the sliver of humanity that persists, even in the darkest night. Nott delivers this message. Theatre, like art, confronts pain. It envisions, with lucidity and courage, a different future.

Soprano Irina Lungu — Tenor Allan Clayton — Baritone Christian Gerhaher. Gran Teatre del Liceu Choir, led by Pablo Assante. Gran Teatre del Liceu Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jonathan Nott.