Concert by the Orchestra e Coro dellAccademia Nazionale di S. Cecilia conducted by Antonio Pappano. Music by Britten (21.00). Repeated 28 (19.30), 29 (18.00).

At the Auditorium-Parco della Musica in Rome, the Accademia Nazionale di S. Cecilia opens its symphonic season in great style with War Requiem by Benjamin Britten (27,28 and 29 Oct), which puts to music the Latin text and poems of Wilfred Owen. The opera was written in 1961 for the consecration of the rebuilt Coventry cathedral and is dedicated to the memory of four of Brittens friends who were killed in world war two. The conductor is Antonio Pappano, who is a constant and much-appreciated presence at Covent Garden. There are also international star soloists: Christine Brewer, Ian Bostridge and Thomas Hampson. The opening of the chamber music season is no less interesting, with the oratory Il giardino di rose by Alessandro Scarlatti (26 Oct) in its first modern performance, conducted by a specialist: Alan Curtis. Paolo Di Nicola