A poignant anti-war declaration, the War Requiem by Benjamin Britten was composed in 1962 not only as an homage, but also with the intent of appealing to a present and future agreement between nations and men. This work was debuted during the consecration of the new cathedral of Coventry, which replaced the ancient St. Michael’s Cathedral that had been completely destroyed by World War II. In this recording made by Mezzo in 2014, the Gulbenkian Choir and Orchestra present Britten’s masterpiece, conducted by Paul McCreesh.