SPIRITUAL MUSIC Birnau-Brahms: A German Requiem, Op. 45

**GUEST CONCERT BY THE HEIDELBERG BACH CHOIR** **SACRED MUSIC Birnau** **A German Requiem, Op. 45** Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) London version for soloists, choir, and piano four hands Brahms's "German Requiem" is one of the most profound and wonderful oratorios in literature and represents one of the most demanding tasks for concert choirs in the 19th century. For the first performance in England in 1871, a piano version was developed in collaboration with Brahms, which, although it naturally has to do without the colors of the instruments, can make the work even more transparent and delicate. In his selection of texts, Brahms emphasizes comfort for the living and reconciliation with the idea of death; there is no threatening judgment or judge-god in his work. Since June 2025, Thomas Gropper, director of the Birnauer Kantorei, has also been conducting the Bachchor Heidelberg and is delighted to present it to the Birnauer audience. **BACHCHOR HEIDELBERG** Thomas Gropper, musical director Claudia Reinhard, soprano Andreas Burkhart, baritone Mirjam von Kirschten & Heiko Stralendorff, piano