Oregon Repertory Singers to Perform Intimate Brahms Requiem in Portland

Portland, OR. — The Oregon Repertory Singers will present a unique and intimate performance of Johannes Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem later this month, offering audiences a fresh interpretation of the beloved choral work.

The performances are scheduled for April 25 and 26 at First United Methodist Church of Portland, with both concerts beginning at 4 p.m.

Unlike the traditional orchestral version, this rendition features a rarely performed arrangement for choir, two pianos, and timpani. Organizers say the scaled-down instrumentation brings greater clarity and emotional immediacy to Brahms’s composition, highlighting its rich harmonies and expressive choral writing.

Originally composed in the 19th century, Brahms’s Requiem differs from traditional Latin requiems by focusing not on prayers for the dead, but on offering comfort and solace to the living. Conductor Ethan Sperry described the piece as a reflection on grief and resilience, emphasizing its enduring relevance more than 150 years after it was written.

The performance will feature soloists Richard Zeller and Arwen Myers, whose contributions are expected to deepen the emotional impact of the work. Pianists Naomi LaViolette and Colin Shepard will accompany the choir in the distinctive two-piano arrangement.

This year’s concert also highlights a partnership with Hopewell House, a residential hospice facility in southwest Portland. The collaboration reflects shared themes of compassion, dignity, and care at the end of life—values organizers say align closely with the message of Brahms’s Requiem.

Tickets for the performances start at $31.50, with proceeds supporting both the Oregon Repertory Singers and community-focused initiatives tied to the event.

The concert is part of the organization’s broader mission to present choral works that explore the full range of human experience, from grief and loss to hope and renewal.