St James the Greater, London Road, Leicester. Conductor: Richard Laing. Programme. J.S. Bach, O Jesu Christ meins Lebens Licht. Lieder by Richard Strauss and Brahms. Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem
Soprano: April Fredrick
Baritone: Geoff Williams
Pianists: Jennifer Carter and Robert Challinor
Organist: Ivan Linford
There can be few among us who have not lost someone during the last year and a half, or who have not witnessed first hand the physical and mental suffering that has been endured by so many. So, as we return to live music-making, it seems fitting to perform a work which, at its heart, acknowledges our own mortality and yet celebrates it too, providing comfort to those of us lucky enough to be here still. Such a work is Brahms’s German Requiem. Here there is no threat of hellfire, no depiction of the terrors of the Day of Judgement. On the contrary, this is a work imbued with remarkable compassion and tenderness and love of life.
The concert will open with a short first half consisting of Bach’s beautiful and peaceful motet O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht, and four songs by Brahms and Richard Strauss which give a moving portrait of love at various stages of life, sung by our soprano soloist April Fredrick. We are also joined for this concert by baritone Geoff Williams, pianists Jennifer Carter and Robert Challinor, and organist Ivan Linford.
This promises to be a very special occasion, as we remember the sufferings of recent months but celebrate what we have, what unites us, and the hope for better times ahead.
Richard Laing, Music Director