The school held a performance of Britten's famous War Requiem in March as part of the composer's centenary birthday celebrations.

BBC: Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears

For the "War Requiem, " Britten assembled a large orchestra, a smaller chamber orchestra, two organs, three vocal soloists, a chorus and a boys' choir (positioned at a distance, with a portable organ or harmonium).

WSJ: The Sounds of Sacrifice | Benjamin Britten | War Requiem | Masterpiece by Stuart Isacoff

"I don't think there is any other composer who set the English language better to music, " says tenor Nicholas Phan, who has recorded two albums of Britten, and will perform in the "War Requiem" next November with Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony.

WSJ: The Sounds of Sacrifice | Benjamin Britten | War Requiem | Masterpiece by Stuart Isacoff

Three concerts will be dedicated to English composer Benjamin Britten's centenary with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Vladimir Jurowski presenting opera Peter Grimes, War Requiem and rarely-performed orchestral music.

BBC: Entertainment & Arts