AS Mrs Goodrick (Letters, January 18) may know, Benjamin Britten's sublime War Requiem was commissioned for the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral in May 1962.
The ancient cathedral was almost destroyed during a German bombing raid in the Second World War.
The distinguished soloists for whom Britten scored the work were chosen to express the theme of post-war reconciliation: the German baritone, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, the Russian soprano, Galina Vishnevskaya and the English tenor, Peter Pears.
The First World War poet, Wilfrid Owen, speaks through Britten's music as directly to contemporary mourners as to those of 1918.
Coventry's stone altar, made of fallen masonry, the cross made of charred fragments of a medieval roof beam, the carved words, "father forgive", and the cathedral's ongoing work in conflict-resolution, all affirm the theme of Britten's great work.
Reconciliation is the only creative response to the senseless violence of war.
I am grateful Benjamin Britten was excused military service to work as a musician he left a great musical legacy.
Mary Machen,
Neville Street,
York.
Updated: 11:23 Saturday, January 22, 2005
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article