On Saturday 4 October 2025, London’s Westminster City Hall will host the UK premiere of Requiem A by German composer Sven Helbig. In a landmark concert of European collaboration, the prestigious Trinity Boys Choir will join youth choirs from Germany, France, and Poland alongside the acclaimed London Contemporary Orchestra to perform this moving new work.

Marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Requiem A commemorates all victims of war and violence while offering a message of hope, reconciliation, and unity in Europe. The London concert represents a milestone in the work’s international tour, bringing together the voices of young performers to carry the legacy of remembrance into the future.

About Requiem A

Helbig’s Requiem breaks new ground by fusing Latin liturgy with newly written texts, electronics, and light design, creating a multi-sensory experience. Its nine sections include Introitus, Kyrie, Dies Irae, Agnus Dei, Sanctus, and Lux Aeterna.

The work premiered in Dresden in February 2025 with the Dresdner Kreuzchor and Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, featuring world-renowned bass René Pape. It was later performed before thousands at Vienna’s Heldenplatz on May 8 — the official day of liberation celebrations — with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Neue Wiener Stimmen.

London Premiere: A European Gathering

The Westminster City Hall performance brings together for the first time:

Trinity Boys Choir (UK)
Dresdner Kreuzchor (Germany)
Poznań Boys Choir (Poland)
La Maîtrise de Garçons de Colmar (France)
London Contemporary Orchestra
This extraordinary collaboration embodies the European Union’s motto, “United in Diversity”, highlighting the power of music to build bridges between cultures at a time when unity is more crucial than ever.

Featured Artists

Sven Helbig – German composer of music for choir, orchestra, and chamber ensembles, fusing classical tradition with experimental electronics. His works have been presented at venues including the Barbican, Elbphilharmonie, Reina Sofia Madrid, and Southbank Centre. He is a recipient of the Dresden Art Prize.

René Pape – One of the world’s leading basses, hailed as the “Atlas among basses” (FAZ). Born in Dresden and a former Kruzianer, Pape has been a cornerstone of the Berlin State Opera since 1988 and is celebrated worldwide for his performances at the Metropolitan Opera and beyond.

Máni Sigfússon – Icelandic video artist collaborating on Requiem A’s visual dimension, known for work with Jóhann Jóhannsson, Sigur Rós, Ólafur Arnalds, and The Rolling Stones.