London Philharmonic Orchestra opens season with Britten’s War Requiem

The London Philharmonic Orchestra opened its 2026/27 season at the Royal Festival Hall with a performance of Benjamin Britten’s ‘War Requiem’, conducted by Edward Gardner.

The performance featured soloists Natalya Romaniw, Paul Appleby, and Benjamin Appl, alongside the London Philharmonic Choir, the London Symphony Chorus, and the Tiffin Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs. Gardner’s interpretation emphasized the austerity and tension inherent in Britten’s score, which juxtaposes the Latin ‘Missa pro defunctis’ with the war poetry of Wilfred Owen.

Reviewers noted the intense emotional impact of the work, highlighting the precision of the soloists and the massive scale of the ensemble. The performance successfully navigated the complex requirements of the piece, which calls for multiple choirs and orchestras to create a dramatic and often heartbreaking musical landscape.