Bihlmaier & BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Johannes Brahms would have liked to call the German Requiem "Human Requiem": "As for the text, I must confess that I would quite like to leave out the 'German' and simply put 'Human'," he wrote to the conductor of the premiere, Carl Reinthaler, in 1867. This humanity is also reflected in the texts he selected: In contrast to the often martial "Dies irae, dies illa," which places the Last Judgment at the center of other requiems, Brahms addresses the grieving survivors with his requiem, wishing to offer them comfort. This is already evident at the beginning when the choir begins a cappella with the words "Blessed are those who mourn." At the Bruckner Festival in Linz, this "Human Requiem" can be experienced in a very special international ensemble: Anja Bihlmaier conducts the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, of which she has been the First Guest Conductor since 2024, as well as the internationally renowned Audi Youth Choir Academy. The solo parts are taken by Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins and German soprano Julia Grüter, who recently captivated audiences at the Grand New Year's Concert 2024 at the Brucknerhaus.

Julia Grüter | Soprano
Joshua Hopkins | Baritone
Audi Youth Choir Academy
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Anja Bihlmaier | Conductor