Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, presented by the National Capital Orchestra (NCO) under the baton of Leonard Weiss, with soprano Rachel Mink and bass Andrew Fysh, and chorus master Dan Walker leading the Canberra Choral Society (CCS), was just the blessing needed during these trying times.

Performed before a large audience in the Llewellyn Hall in Canberra, this was one of the few concerts going on in Australia at the moment due to COVID lockdowns.

Bass Andrew Fysh with Leonard Weiss conducting the National Capital Orchestra. Photo © Peter Hislop

When first performed on 1 December, 1867 in Vienna, Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) by Johannes Brahms was a scaled-down version of what we know today. It remains an ambitious work for a composer aged 33. Verdi was 60 when he wrote his Requiem and Fauré about 55.

The growing melody for orchestra that envelops the opening part of Ein Deutsches Requiem soon built to include the 60-strong choir. The orchestra is almost subservient to the choir throughout this work. The unique orchestration in the opening part sees the first and second violins with little to do. This...