There are few experiences more uplifting than music that speaks directly to the human spirit.
On Good Friday, 3 April 2026 at 7.00pm, St Peter’s Singers invite audiences to Leeds Minster to experience Ein deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms — a choral masterpiece celebrated for its ability to bring comfort, hope and harmony.
Unlike a traditional Latin Requiem, Brahms’ work was written in German as a “Human Requiem”, intended to console the living rather than mourn the dead. It moves from quiet reflection through moments of profound sorrow to passages of uplifting grandeur, leaving listeners with a sense of reassurance and peace. For those new to classical music, the emotional clarity of the work — enhanced by full English translations — makes it both accessible and deeply moving.
The evening opens with four songs by Brahms and fellow Romantic composers Felix Mendelssohn and Anton Bruckner. From Brahms’ Warum ist das Licht gegeben, with its intense expression of human longing, to Mendelssohn’s serene prayer Verleih uns Frieden, and Bruckner’s soaring Christus factus est, these works explore the themes of consolation and faith, providing a reflective and intimate prelude to the Requiem itself.
Leeds Minster’s majestic architecture and space provide a transformative ambience for the music. The soaring nave and stained-glass windows provide a serene and inspiring backdrop, making this not just a concert, but also a moment to feel enveloped by both music and something bigger, even spiritual. Audiences regularly describe performances here as moving, atmospheric and unforgettable.
St Peter’s Singers are joined by the professional National Festival Orchestra and distinguished soloists: soprano Helen Winter and bass-baritone Quentin Brown. The performance is conducted by Alexander Woodrow.
Tickets are £20, with free entry for under-18s and full-time students. Book here.
Soloists:
Helen Winter, soprano, has a distinguished record as a professional singer, having been a member of the BBC Singers and taken operatic roles with Holland Park Opera and Scottish Opera, among other notable companies. She has appeared on ITV’s Popstar to Operastar, and played a starring role in Cameron Mackintosh’s West End production of The Sound of Music LIVE.
Quentin Brown, bass-baritone, has a long association with Leeds Minster, singing in both the Choir of Leeds Parish Church (as it then was) and St Peter’s Singers. As a member of the BBC Northern Singers, he recorded frequently for BBC Radio 3 and toured abroad. Quentin has appeared as soloist with many choral societies around the country, singing repertoire from Bach to Vaughan Williams.
