Berlioz - Grande messe des morts

Berlioz's spectacular Grande messe de morts (Requiem) performed at the Royal Albert Hall by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and massed choral forces conducted by François-Xavier Roth.

Presented by Martin Handley.

Berlioz: Requiem - Grande messe des morts

Toby Spence (tenor)
BBC Symphony Chorus
Crouch End Festival Chorus
London Philharmonic Choir
BBC Symphony Orchestra
François-Xavier Roth (conductor)

Of all the Requiems, Berlioz's epic Grande messe des morts is among the largest. It involves a gargantuan ensemble, including huge choir, 10 timpanists and 4 offstage brass bands, and unleashes an incredible range of expression with masterful theatricality.

This breathtaking, roof-raising masterwork was written to commemorate the fallen of the 1830 French Revolution and was a great success at its 1837 premiere. It was performed in the similarly epic Royal Albert Hall with the massed choral forces of the BBC Symphony and Crouch End Festival Choruses, the London Philharmonic Choir, tenor Toby Spence and conductor François-Xavier Roth on Remembrance Sunday.

Recorded on 13th November at the Royal Albert Hall, London.