The theme of the three works on this new 2-disc release is death.; The first work and title track is Britten’s War Requiem, which was composed for victims of the Second World War, and dedicated to the people of Coventry.; Following Britten’s Requiem is Penderecki’s Threnody for the victims of Hiroshima, and finally Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto, which was dedicated to the memory of Alma Mahler’s 19-year-old daughter.; The Dresdner Philharmonie and the Leipzig Radio-Sinfonieorchester perform here under the baton of East-German conductor Herbert Kegel, who is an expert at 20th century orchestral works.