INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir will conclude its 77th season with a one-night performance of Benjamin Britten’s choral-orchestral composition War Requiem at 8 p.m. on May 3, at The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Among the most challenging musical selections of classical repertoire, the piece rarely is performed due to its musical demands on the performers as well as the expense and resources associated with producing a concert work of this scale.

Joining the Choir for this impressive feat will be the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Children’s Choir, Indianapolis Men’s Chorus and the Butler University Chorale. Tickets range from $20 to $68 and are available at indychoir.org or by calling 317-843-3800.

“Every arts organization develops an artistic brand, a musical identity, defining their home court repertoire,” suggests artistic director Eric Stark who will be conducting the War Requiem for the second time in his career. “The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir has built its identity on performing the larger-scale choral-orchestral works that many other arts organizations just can’t manage. We do the big war horses such as the Berlioz Requiem, Verdi Requiem, Bach B Minor Mass, and of course we’re presenting the War Requiem for the second time in eight years.”

As part of the international musical community’s celebration of what would be the 100th anniversary of composer Benjamin Britten’s birth, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir elected to end its 2013-14 season with one of the composer’s most daunting and moving compositions.