Fauré: Requiem; Bach: Partita, Chorales & Ciaccona

During the 2011 City of London Festival, Tenebrae joined a chamber ensemble from the LSO at St Paul’s Cathedral for a performance of Fauré’s Requiem. The Requiem was preceded by a selection of Bach’s Chorales interspersed with his Partitia in D minor, performed by Gordan Nikolitch, leader of the London Symphony Orchestra.

Fauré’s Requiem favours serenity, joy and liberation over the dread and terror employed by most composers in settings of the Mass of the Dead. By adopting a more comforting approach, he crafted music of astonishing beauty, in particular the Pie Jesu. Bach’s Partita for Violin No 2, with chorales interspersed, culminates in a reconstruction of the Ciaconna, highlighting the hidden chorale themes within this fascinating work.

LSO0728  68 minutes 15 seconds
'I have no hesitation in labelling this the very best Fauré Requiem on disc' (Gramophone)
'Choir and soloist, LSO Leader Gordan Nikolitch, come together in the great Chaconne, to wrenching and compelling effect' (The Observer)
'Choral music doesn't get more magnificent than this. Tenebrae sound dynamic, tight and ooze atmosphere in their performance here, but it's the magical way the soloists and the LSO glide in and out of ...