If you’re a fan of the band you probably know that we work very closely with the Oregon Symphony. That’s where we got our start and we consider them family. The Symphony’s show next weekend is Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem”, and we couldn’t be more excited. This performance marks the 100th anniversary of Britten’s birth, and under the masterful hand of conductor Carlos Kalmar the piece has taken on a whole new life. And for the next week, Pink Martini fans can experience this piece of musical history for 20% the original ticket price!

Here’s what Carlos has to say about this seminal work:

“In 1941, during the Blitzkrieg of the Nazis against Great Britain, the Cathedral of Coventry was bombed in an air raid. Several hundred people died there, and the Cathedral was left in ruins.

Twenty years later, the ruins were still there (they still are). The new Coventry Cathedral was built next to the old one, so that everybody could still see what tragic events led to the destruction of the old one.

For the 1962 re-opening of the Cathedral, Benjamin Britten was commissioned to write a piece. He choose to embrace this in a very broad way, and wrote the “War Requiem”. Britten (and his lifelong partner , the tenor Peter Pears) were pacifists, and had bin stern objectors to World War II.  With this in mind, Britten took the traditional Latin text of the Requiem mass and left it unchanged, but intersected it with music from songs based on poetry by Wilfried Owen. Owen was one of the greatest talents in British literature, but got killed right before the end of the World War I. His poetry speaks about the pity of war.  So, the “War Requiem” is traditional in that it contains the original Latin lyrics, but more pointed due to the poetry that is added. It is a masterpiece of the 20th century.

I believe that everybody should be exposed to this piece. Britten wrote a piece that reminds us of the horrors of war and the scope of his conception goes way beyond World War I or II. “War Requiem” points out the impact of war on humanity. This piece is beautiful, gripping, intense, sad, emotional, and leaves you speechless. By playing it, I have no intention of sending out a political message to anybody.  This piece simply carries a powerful unitarian message, and I would love everybody to be exposed to it. It is an experience you will not soon forget.”

Don’t miss your chance to hear one of history’s most complex and important musical works performed by some of the world’s most talented musicians. Take 20% off the ticket price here.