Fauré’s Requiem is a tender, intimate work. He did not choose to set the Dies irae movement that gives Mozart’s and Verdi’s Requiems so much of their drama and intensity. Instead, Fauré chose a gentler path. He described the work as a “lullaby of death”, reflecting his personal view of death as “an aspiration toward happiness above, rather than as a painful experience.” The music is lovely and soothing, its movements balanced. The central Pie Jesu for soprano solo serves as a fulcrum to the preceding and following movements. It is easy to understand why this work is so beloved to choruses and audiences alike.

Baritone Soloist

With: Wellesley Hills Congregational Church