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Bee Gees legend Robin Gibb died May 20 at the age of 62, and he’ll be forever remembered for the disco hits he performed with that group. But his final major creation was markedly different. To commemorate the centennial of the tragic sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912, Gibb and his son R.J. Gibb composed an album of classical music: The Titanic Requiem. The piece was their first classical work together and was performed last month by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra along with the RSVP Voices choir. As is appropriate for an album commemorating a tragedy, the music is hauntingly beautiful, but no song more affecting or poignant than ‘Don’t Cry Alone’, which featured Robin Gibb as lead vocalist.
On April 10th, the Titanic Requiem premiered at the Westminster Central Hall in London. Co-composer R. J. Gibb introduced the performance, but his father Robin was too sick to attend. To honor Robin in his absence, a recording of the song Don’t Cry Alone was played with lights dimmed and a silent orchestra as the audience listened to the heart-felt lyrics: “I’ll be there for you forever. Don’t you ever cry.” As the song finished the audience rose to give a standing ovation.
Watch R.J. Gibbs introduce “The Titanic Requiem”:
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