Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Presents WAR REQUIEM, Led by Music Director Robert Spano This Weekend

Music Director Robert Spano will lead the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and Chorus in Britten's War Requiem tonight, April 24, 2014, at 8:00 p.m. and April 26, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. in Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.

The concert will also feature soprano Evelina Dobrac?eva, tenor Anthony Dean Griffey, baritone Stephen Powell, and the Gwinnett Young Singers.

More than 50 years after its premiere, Britten's War Requiem remains one of the most lyrical, haunting, and beautiful choral works performed today. The work was commissioned for the consecration of the St. Michael's Cathedral after the original cathedral was destroyed during World War II.

Tickets are $24-$75, and additional details are available at aso.org/britten.

On Wednesday, April 30, 2014, Mr. Spano, the Orchestra, and the Chorus will return to Carnegie Hall to perform Britten's War Requiem with soprano Evelina Dobrac?eva, tenor Anthony Dean Griffey, baritone Stephen Powell, and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. This performance will be a centerpiece of Carnegie Hall's "Britten 100" - a season-long celebration in honor of the centenary of the prolific English composer's birth.

The ASO is one of a select group of American orchestras to perform at Carnegie Hall during its 2013-14 season. The Orchestra's history at Carnegie Hall dates back to its first performance there with Robert Shaw in March of 1971. At the invitation of Carnegie Hall, the Orchestra has performed 24 concerts to date - 12 times with Robert Shaw, five with Yoel Levi, and seven with Robert Spano. The upcoming April 30 performance will mark Mr. Spano's eighth Carnegie Hall appearance with the Orchestra.

About the Repertoire
BRITTEN War Requiem

In 1960, Benjamin Britten received a commission to compose a new work for the consecration of the St. Michael's Cathedral, Coventry. The original Cathedral had been destroyed during World War II... (more)

About the Artists

Music Director Robert Spano, currently in his 13th season as music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, is recognized internationally as one of the most imaginative conductors today... (more)

Evelina Dobrac?eva began singing under the tutelage of Professor Norma Sharp, Snezana Brzakovic and Professor Julia Varady at the Hanns Eisler Music... (more)

Four-time Grammy Award-Winning® tenor Anthony Dean Griffey is known for his portrayal of the title role of Britten's Peter Grimes, first performed at... (more)

This season Stephen Powell sings Rigoletto with Lyric Opera Baltimore; Simon Boccanegra (1857 version) in Warsaw; Belshazzar's Feast with... (more)

Now in its 19th season, the Gwinnett Young Singers are frequent guests of the ASO. Under the direction of Founder and Music Director Lynn Urda, and Associate Director Carol Wyatt, the Gwinnett Young Singers rapidly became a nationally recognized children's chorus ... (more)

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus was founded in 1970 by ASO Music Director Robert Shaw. Comprised of 200 auditioned voices, the Chorus is an all volunteer organization that performs on a regular basis with the ASO, and is featured on many of the Orchestra's recordings... (more)

About the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO), currently in its 69th season, is one of America's leading orchestras. It performs great music, presents leading artists, educates and engages music lovers. The ASO serves as the cornerstone for artistic development and music education in the southeast. It performs more than 200 concerts each year for a combined audience of more than a half million in a full schedule of performances. It also reaches more than 87,000 students and underserved members of the community through its education and community outreach programs... (more)

Concert Previews

Audiences have the opportunity to learn more about the music they will be hearing at concerts with free Concert Previews given by composers, conductors, educators, and musical experts, all hosted by ASO Insider and Program Annotator Ken Meltzer. Thursday evenings, 7:00-7:30 p.m. in Atlanta Symphony Hall (unless otherwise noted). Concerts previews are free and open to all concert ticketholders. Speakers and locations are subject to change.

This concert is presented by Delta Air Lines, GE Asset Management, Porsche Cars North America, and Jim Ellis Porsche.

Delta Air Lines is the Official Airline of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.