Benjamin Britten integrated a number of poems by the First World War Poet Wilfred Owen within the Latin Requiem Mass. Although this massive, stunning piece is over 50 years old and has been performed on many occasions, it is receiving its premiere in Innsbruck on October 26 at 18.00 in the Dogana. It is preceded by a talk on the work at 17.00 in the Saal Brüssel of the Kongress Haus.

This Poetry Cafe programme takes the form of a discussion of three of Owen’s poems used in the ‘War Requiem’: ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’, ‘Futility’, and ‘Strange Meeting’.

We are very pleased to welcome the conductor of the performance, Claudio Büchler, who offers his insights into the ‘War Requiem‘. Extracts from the work are also played.