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Large Orchestra and Choir performing at the Royal Festival Hall
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Brahms’ German Requiem

Two top London choirs perform Brahms’ sublime German Requiem and a lively cantata by Fanny Mendelssohn.

Part of Classical Season - Spring/Summer 2025
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Hackney Singers and Lewisham Choral Society combine forces to perform one of the most magnificent works in the choral repertoire.

Brahms’ German Requiem is a delight for singers and audiences alike.

Fanny Hensel, ‘the other Mendelssohn’, was Felix’s older sister and a brilliant composer in her own right.

Neglected for many years, her music is now beginning to get the attention it deserves – and tonight you can hear her lively cantata Hiob (Job).

The contrapuntal style of the music is reminiscent of Bach, a composer the Mendelssohns much admired.

The programme also includes Brahms’ Tragic Overture, performed by tonight’s musicians, the celebrated London Mozart Players.

This is the sixth appearance for the joint choirs at the Southbank Centre, the last being a sell-out performance of Verdi’s Requiem in 2023.

London Mozart Players are one of the world’s finest chamber ensembles, harnessing the passion and talent of its musicians to create world-class performances.

Soprano Eleanor Pennell-Briggs has performed at London’s Cadogan and Smith Square Halls and in France, Italy and Luxembourg; she also works regularly with Covent Garden’s Royal Opera Chorus.

Baritone Jonathan Brown has sung opera in London, Paris, Lille and Strasbourg as well as a wide range of concert music throughout the UK, in continental Europe and in North and South America.

Conductor Dan Ludford-Thomas enjoys a busy schedule as a conductor, chorus master and singing teacher. He directs several choirs and performs regularly in major concert venues across the country.

Performers

London Mozart Players

Dan Ludford-Thomas conductor

Eleanor Pennell-Briggs soprano

Jonathan Brown baritone

Lewisham Choral Society

Hackney Singers

Repertoire

Brahms: Tragic Overture

Fanny Mendelssohn: Cantata, Hiob (Job)

Interval

Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 7+

For your visit

This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre

The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.

Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.

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A lively crowd cheers with raised hands, while a performer in a white hat and suit plays guitar, against red lighting. View larger image
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Pianis Víkingur Ólafsson is seated at a grand piano while playing Bach’s Goldberg Variations on the stage of Royal Festival Hall View larger image
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Plan your visit

The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.

Getting here

Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.

The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues.  More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.

We’re cash-free

Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.

Access

We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.

All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access. 

All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.

Food & drink

On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.

From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.

Other places to eat and drink whilst you’re here

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Spring/Summer 2025
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