I was at Britten's War Requiem this evening: Susan B. Anthony, Ian Bostridge, Simon Keenlyside, LSO, LSC, Colin Davis.
Really fab - I got an amazing goosebump moment in the Libera Me - never before experienced goosebumps like that: the 'Voice of Jupiter' booming over full orchestra and chorus. The hairs on my arms literally stood up, and I went cold and hot again. Amazing. Ian Bostridge, who I've never really previous liked very much was wonderful - it was as if he managed to combine the purity of a choirboy with the robustness of a tenor, and I have never heard such a perfect messa di voce. Simon Keenlyside, of whom I am a fan, was disappointing. He sounded phlegmy on some low notes - not necessarily the lowest, and he seemed to be straining for the high notes. Perhaps he had an allergy. Opera singers seem a pretty allergic bunch.
But it seems so long ago because this was followed by the world permiere of the concert version of John Taverner's The Veil of the Temple. It came in at just under three hours - the non-concert version premiered from dusk to dawn on 27 June last year.
As I took my seat, I wondered what I had let myself in for. I was mentally preparing my blog entry - John Taverner is an acquired taste; I wish to acquire it, but haven't yet. Scrub that - it was extraordinary, unique and wonderful.
Sadly, it seems, neither are being repeated over the air or are available on Listen to Again. I may well send a sweetly worded begging email to Radio 3.
More detail tomorrow. But bed calls me now!
