Britten's "War Requiem" performed by the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gavin Carr (September 6, 2025) Hiroshima International Conference Center Phoenix Hall).
“War Requiem" in the Atomic-Bombed City, Hiroshima British Bournemouth Chorus performs with Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra Yuji IWANO, Music Critic
Yuji IWANO, Music Critic
On August 6, 1945, the city of Hiroshima was struck by an atomic bomb. This year marks 80 years since that event. The Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, the world's only professional orchestra based in an atomic-bombed city, has planned numerous concerts to convey a message of peace. Among them, the most important and crowning concert was held on September 6, one month after the Hiroshima bombing, at the Phoenix Hall of the Hiroshima International Conference Center, located in a corner of the Peace Memorial Park. The performance featured the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus from the UK for the 80th anniversary of the bombing.
The Bournemouth Symphony Chorus has a history of over 100 years and has been active as the resident chorus of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra since 1979. Despite being an amateur chorus, their skill is exceptionally high. Their CD of Elgar's "Belshazzar's Feast," conducted by Andrew Litton, won a Grammy Award in the United States. They have also performed in various countries around the world, including Europe, America, Israel, and India.
Proposal from the UK side led to distribution
The project "War Requiem in Hiroshima" had been conceived more than 20 years ago by Gavin Carr, the conductor of the chorus. However, initially, the British side had no information about whether there was a suitable orchestra in Hiroshima. It was sparked by a video distribution by the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an enthusiastic offer, "We definitely want to perform together." A chorus of 140 members, James Gilchrist (a familiar tenor to BCJ and NHK), Roderick Williams (baritone), and one pianist from the chorus gathered in Hiroshima.
The Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra also took the significance of this performance into account and decided to use the Phoenix Hall as the venue.
It was decided that the important parts for the children's chorus would be taken by the NHK Hiroshima Children's Chorus, which has rich experience performing abroad as a "peace music envoy." Hiromi Omura, one of Japan's leading singers, joined as the soprano. They made thorough preparations, including rehearsing for four days, which is longer than usual, to be fully ready.
Britten's Nephew Also Participated
The passion of the chorus and soloists was intense. Gavin Carr's precise conducting, who deeply understands Britten's masterpiece, also ignited the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra members, and the anger towards war and prayers for the victims resonated deeply, filling every corner of the hall. If the excellent performance by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in July expressed the brutality of war to its extreme, this performance by the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra was deeply human, leaving an impression of warmth amidst the severity.
William Britten, the composer's nephew, also participated in the baritone section of the chorus. For the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, which champions "Music for Peace" as its slogan, it was truly a historic performance.
The Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, with a total of 140 members, occupies the audience seats behind the stage. In front of them are soprano Hiromi Omura, tenor James Gilchrist, and baritone Roderick Williams to the left and right of the conductor.
The NHK Hiroshima Children's Chorus, positioned in the lower left corner of the second-floor audience seats. Chorus conductor: Akihira Nishiguchi.
Responding to applause after the performance, from right: Gilchrist, Williams, Omura, Carr, Nishiguchi.
All photos courtesy of Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra.