When 250 Tristaters in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival Chorus take the stage at New York's Carnegie Hall Oct. 9, it will be exactly four weeks from the day of the terrorist attacks. But more significantly, the music they will be performing is Benjamin Britten's War Requiem.

        The performance will be previewed at CSO concerts in Music Hall Friday and Saturday (tickets: 381-3300).

        At the chorus rehearsal following the attacks, “everybody was really shaken, and noticing the special significance of performing this piece,” says Robert Porco, director of choruses.

        Britten's War Requiem is an anti-war statement, he says.

        “It's really a piece of mourning,” he says. “But it's also got this profound message of, when is this nonsense going to stop?”

        Britten composed the work for the consecration of St. Michael's Cathedral in Coventry, England. The original church was destroyed in one of the most devastating air raids of World War II.

        For text, Britten combined the Latin Mass for the Dead and poems by a young soldier who was killed in World War I, Wilfred Owen. Particularly symbolic was Britten's choice of an English, German and Russian singer for the solo roles — to be repeated in these performances.

        Also symbolic is Britten's use of a boychoir — “a reminder of the fact that these might be our soldiers of the next few years,” Mr. Porco says.

        The effect is both powerful and personal.

        “It's a very moving piece, even in good times,” he says.

O, brother, bluegrass is big
New bluegrass on disc
CSO and chorus take special show to Carnegie
'War Requiem' reflects Conlon's grief
DEMALINE: The arts
How they set scene for 'Lear'
'Love Child' looks at babies with babies
Melody, wit carry Ben Folds
'Texas' is the Good Book according to TV
Theater partnership brings 'Monologues' to town in January
Blessid Union plans concert for wheelchair
DAUGHERTY: Everyday
De Asa Nichols builds businesses
KENDRICK: Alive and well
Silver bangles dangle from wife's arm
Cooking part of 'life goes on'
Tipping for takeout service a personal choice
Traditional 'hard cider' in season
Lunchtime chats begin
Get to it