Kazuki Yamada conducts Debussy, Escaich (world premiere), and Fauré's Requiem

One hundred years after the death of Gabriel Fauré, the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and Japanese maestro Kazuki Yamada join the Philharmonic Chorus of Tokyo in Toulouse's historic Basilica of Saint-Sernin, with soloists Maki Mori (soprano) and Florian Sempey (baritone), to celebrate the composer with his own beloved Requiem in D minor. One of the most famous Requiem masses ever composed — and perhaps the one that best exemplifies the meaning of the word: "rest, repose" — this piece was created not as a direct reaction to the death of a loved one, but simply "for pleasure," according to Fauré. Indeed, this Requiem forgoes the stormy "Dies irae" sequence of many similar works and aims for sheer melodic and harmonic beauty, from the meditative introduction to the heavenly "Sanctus" and heartbreakingly expressive "In Paradisum," an experience that will transport you from first moment to last. The program also features Debussy's charming Petite Suite in an orchestral arrangement, as well as the world premiere of a new work by Thierry Escaich, Towards the light, inspired by centuries-old visions of eternal light (Lux aeterna) — including the one so compellingly presented in the stirring "Libera me" of Fauré's Requiem.

Photo © Romain Alcazar