Orchestra says farewell to popular conductor

EMG Symphony Orchestra said farewell to its conductor with a performance of Britten’s War Requiem at Exeter Cathedral yesterday, 23 April.

The Cathedral was full to capacity for the concert. A huge choir joined almost 100 players for the performance, which fell on the same date as the first bombing raids on Exeter during 1942. On 23 April that year, seven high explosive bombs fell west of the river in St Thomas and Marsh Barton with four fatalities.

Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem was commissioned for the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral, built alongside the remains of the original building, which was destroyed in a bombing raid during the Second World War. Britten was a pacifist and used the words of the Latin Requiem Mass interwoven with poems by Wilfred Owen, reflecting the cruelty of war.

Marion Wood leaves the orchestra after eight years as conductor and musical director. She said:
“I have particularly enjoyed EMG’s collegiate atmosphere. It’s all about getting everybody together to make the music happen. Rehearsing the whole group is one of the things that’s really special about this orchestra.”

At a farewell party following the concert, the orchestra said goodbye to Marion. The post of musical director has been advertised and is already attracting applications. Following a shortlisting, the orchestra will audition a number of conductors, and the final selection will be made by orchestra vote.