To mark the 110th Anniversary of ANZAC Day and the forthcoming 80th Anniversary of VE Day (8 May) St Paul’s Cathedral, along with over 100 musicians, will mount a commemorative service and performance of Ein deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms in the magnificent surrounds of St Paul’s Cathedral on Sunday 27 April at 4 pm.

A profoundly humane meditation on loss, Brahms was inspired to write the work by the death of his mother in 1865. Himself an agnostic, its dominant theme is comfort to the grieving rather than intercession for the deceased.

The title of Ein deutsches Requiem(‘A German Requiem’) in no way refers to a narrow nationalistic sentiment or purpose. Composed during the wars of German unification (1864—1871), and midst the rising tide of European imperialism and colonialism that foreshadowed the tragedy of two World Wars, Brahms rather wished the work to address to the community in which he lived without reference to traditional sectarian, linguistic, or political boundaries. Thus he chose to break with the Latin tradition of the Requiem Mass, setting instead his own selection of texts from Martin Luther’s ‘German’ Bible.

Similarly, this performance of Ein deutsches Requiem will form part of a service of remembrance that will use readings also drawn from non-traditional sources.  Authors German theologian and prisoner of war Jürgen Moltmann (1926-2024), the English missionary, musician, and prisoner of war Margaret Dryburgh (1890-1945), whose war story will be familiar to many through Bruce Beresford’s film Paradise Road (1996), the indigenous Australian artist, educator and activist Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM (b. 1950), and the Australian performer songwriter Nick Cave (b. 1957)  

The Dean of the Cathedral, The Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe, said “This ANZAC-tide, we are bringing together voices from different traditions who each experienced conflict and found meaning in their suffering. This Requiem offers us a chance to reflect on loss and mortality in a way that transcends national boundaries, just as Brahms intended. It reminds us that remembrance is not only about honouring the past, but also about committing ourselves to building a more peaceful future together”.

The orchestra for the performance is Corpus Medicorum (a Melbourne-based orchestra of doctors, medical students and health professionals) working in collaboration with The Orchestra Project, and the choir is drawn from vocalists from across the city’s network of vocal ensembles. This combined group of over 100 performers will be conducted by Fabian Russell and include Sun-Aria winner Rebecca Rashleigh (soprano) and Peter Tregear (baritone) as soloists.

The service will be livestreamed.

Free Event, No ticket required.

Conductor Fabian Russell
Soprano Rebecca Rashleigh
Baritone Peter Tregear
Vocal Soloists of Melbourne