Grand Omroepkoor and Daniel Rowland: Fauré's Requiem and Panufnik II

The Groot Omroepkoor sings conductor Benjamin Goodson's favourite requiem, Fauré's. Star violinist Daniel Rowland joins the choir in Songs of Love & Friendship by Roxanna Panufnik. A work with a Dutch flavour: the lyrics are by the 18th-century liberal writer Belle van Zuylen.

Fauré's Requiem

'Fauré's Requiem has to be one of the finest choral works in existence,' said conductor Benjamin Goodson. 'In requiems by Mozart, Verdi and others, you hear hellfire and the fury of the Gods. In Fauré, there is only serenity.' Goodson conducts the lyrical work with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Groot Omroepkoor. At the latter ensemble, "a jewel in the European classical landscape," he recently became principal conductor. Soloists in Fauré's Requiem are soprano Ilse Eerens and baritone Roderick Williams.

Great Broadcasting Choir and Daniel Rowland

A special collaboration with Daniel Rowland was planned for Goodson's inaugural concert with the Groot Omroepkoor. This renowned violinist has been praised by the Volkskrant for his "riveting playing. He would accompany the choir as soloist in a new piece by Roxanna Panufnik. A British composer acclaimed internationally for her poetic choral works. "Her music is deeply saturated with color," wrote The Times. Because of COVID-19, we had that world premiere to look forward to. Today, Rowland and the Groot Omroepkoor perform Songs of Love & Friendship, set to 18th-century lyrics by the liberal Dutch writer Belle van Zuylen.