A Norwegian Requiem, Andrew Smith’s musical remembrance of the victims of the Utøya massacre, will be performed at three dates in the UK in November.
Smith began composing the piece, commissioned by the Nidaros Cathedral Girls’ Choir, shortly before the attacks on 22 July 2011, which left an indelible impression on the work. The text announcing the tour explains: "Requiem is dedicated to young, innocent victims of conflict everywhere, and in particular to those who lost their lives at Utøya on 22 July 2011." Consequently, Smith drew on biblical references to the young for the piece, including: "Rachel screaming at the abduction of her children by the Babylonians, Herod’s brutal infanticide after the birth of Jesus, and Mary crying at the loss of her son."
Pioneering Norwegian musicians Arve Henriksen and Ståle Storløkken will form the core of the group performing the piece, performing a duet before being joined by UK girls’ choir Choralia and, for the London date only, the LSO Community Choir. Henriksen and Storløkken are both part of Supersilent, with the latter playing on one of our albums of 2012, The Death Defying Unicorn with Motorpsycho.
Have a look at the tour dates below:
NOVEMBER
Mon 25 – The Sage, Gateshead
Tue 26 – LSO St. Luke’s, London
Wed 27 – St. George’s, Bristol
