al Society – Brahms: A German Requiem and Rheinberger

Our next concert features one of the great choral masterpieces of the 19th century, Brahms’ A German Requiem, performed in a chamber version that brings new clarity to this work.

The German Requiem was originally scored for symphony orchestra and Brahms also wrote a version for piano duet which is often performed, but Epsom Choral Society will perform the work in a relatively new arrangement by Iain Farrington, scored for just flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano. This arrangement preserves much of Brahms’ orchestral texture retaining much of the original orchestration. We will be joined by the English Sinfonietta Chamber Ensemble and two outstanding soloists, Elizabeth Findon (soprano) and Dominic Sedgwick (baritone), both widely admired for their concert and operatic performances, and the whole will be conducted by Julian Collings.

The programme also includes two contrasting choral works by Josef Rheinberger: the serene and much-loved motet Abendlied, and his Mass in E flat, a work for double choir written in just a few days 10 years after Brahms wrote his Requiem. It is dedicated to Pope Leo Xlll, and is considered to be Rheinberger’s finest work.