BSO: Eternal Heaven

Britten undertook to register his personal feelings about war by calling this symphony a requiem and giving its three interlinked movements headings taken from the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead. Cast in two sombre outer movements and an agitated centre, it covers a gamut of moods, from pity to passion. Showing influences from Mahler, Stravinsky and Vaughan Williams, it is distinctly written in his unique language. The last of Mahler’s Wunderhorn symphonies, the Fourth is the sunniest of all his symphonies, the last without the brooding nature, intensity, size, and vastness of those yet to come. Displaying an innocence and congeniality throughout, it is an exploration of the idea of heaven from the perspective of a child. The title of the poem used in the symphony’s final movement is There is not a cloud in the sky. Elements from the song appear in the first three movements before it is heard in its entirety in the last movement.

Please note this concert is being livestreamed and some shots will include wide angle views of the audience. You can buy a Digital Concert Ticket here.

Mark Wigglesworth – Conductor

Olivia Boen – Soprano

Works and Composers: 

Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem

Mahler: Symphony No.4