Brahms, A German Requiem
Magdalen College Chapel, Oxford, OX1 4AU
Saturday 24th October 2026 8:00PM
The Wykeham Consort perform Brahms' German Requiem, offering a fresh interpretation of Brahms' brilliant writing in the beautiful acoustics of Magdalen College Chapel. Brahms' music is complemented by a reading of 'A German Requiem' by poet James Fenton.
Brahms wrote his Requiem to offer consolation, not least to himself in light of the deaths of Robert Schumann and his mother. But the music is expressive of more: it exhibits great dynamism as much as comfort. His treatment of texts from the Lutheran Bible projected an individual musical identity for the young composer. Brahms' music brought to life by this performance by the excellent singers of the Wykeham Consort, with pianists Hugh Rowlands and Joseph Hyam. Soloists Ruby Skilbeck and Ben Gilchrist lead this new interpretation of Brahms' masterpiece: at once consoling and energetic. The poetry of James Fenton offers a new experience of this music. Fenton's verse locates Brahms' 'German Requiem' in the intellectual history of that country and its troubled first century.
Brahms wrote his Requiem to offer consolation, not least to himself in light of the deaths of Robert Schumann and his mother. But the music is expressive of more: it exhibits great dynamism as much as comfort. His treatment of texts from the Lutheran Bible projected an individual musical identity for the young composer. Brahms' music brought to life by this performance by the excellent singers of the Wykeham Consort, with pianists Hugh Rowlands and Joseph Hyam. Soloists Ruby Skilbeck and Ben Gilchrist lead this new interpretation of Brahms' masterpiece: at once consoling and energetic. The poetry of James Fenton offers a new experience of this music. Fenton's verse locates Brahms' 'German Requiem' in the intellectual history of that country and its troubled first century.
Event Details
Doors Open at 7:30PM
From 8:00PM to 9:15PM
