On Oct. 4, the Central Hall Westminster will present bass René Pape and four distinguished European choirs in Sven Helbig’s Requiem A.

Pape will be accompanied by the London Contemporary Orchestra and the choirs Dresdner Kreuzchor (Germany), Trinity Boys Choir (UK), Poznań Boys’ Choir (Poland), and La Maîtrise de Garçons de Colmar (France), under the direction of Kreuzkantor Martin Lehmann. Icelandic artist Máni M. Sigfusson will contribute live visuals, creating a profound evening of music, reflection, and cross-cultural dialogue.

Requiem A explores themes of grief, memory, and renewal. merging classical orchestration, choral tradition, and electronics.

Inspired by Sven Helbig’s personal reflections on history and conversations with his daughter, Ida, the work meditates on human resilience and the possibility of new beginnings. The Requiem’s nine movements, including bass arias performed by Pape, move the listener from collective memory to personal reflection.

In a statement Helbig said, “Never before has one of my concerts carried such intensity – on a personal, artistic, and political level. I began Requiem A in a state of deep disillusionment and, thanks to my daughter, brought it to completion with renewed hope. To now share this work in London alongside such outstanding artists is profoundly meaningful to me.”