Fauré: Requiem & Messe basse Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Stephen Cleobury and Ensemble of King's College, Cambridge

• Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924): Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48:
• 1 Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48: Introit (Ed. Marc Rigaudière) 01:33
• 2 Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48: Kyrie (Ed. Marc Rigaudière) 03:54
• 3 Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48: Offertoire (Ed. Marc Rigaudière) 02:49
• 4 Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48: Sanctus (Ed. Marc Rigaudière) 03:09
• 5 Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48: Pie Jesu (Ed. Marc Rigaudière) 03:03
• 6 Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48: Agnus Dei (Ed. Marc Rigaudière) 05:19
• 7 Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48: Libera Me (Ed. Marc Rigaudière) 04:48
• 8 Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48: In Paradisum (Ed. Marc Rigaudière) 03:19
• 9 Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48: Offertoire (Ed. John Rutter) 08:05
• Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11:
• 10 Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11 05:43
• Messe basse:
• 11 Messe basse: I. Kyrie 02:10
• 12 Messe basse: II. Sanctus 02:09
• 13 Messe basse: III. Benedictus 02:28
• 14 Messe basse: IV. Agnus Dei 02:57
• Total Runtime 51:26

Info for Fauré: Requiem & Messe basse

This critically-acclaimed album was recorded in January 2014 with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and former choral scholar Gerald Finley. It is the first recording of Marc Rigaudière’s new reconstruction of the earliest complete liturgical performance of the Fauré Requiem.

It faithfully recreates the 1889 premiere, even using the organ stops available to the organist at the L’église de la Madeleine in Paris. The instruments and techniques used by the orchestra are typical of those used in a French orchestra of the late 19th century.

The expanded version of the Requiem, as edited by John Rutter, is also included on this album for comparison.

Fauré’s Requiem forms a cornerstone of the Choir’s repertoire, along with the Cantique de Jean Racine, heard here in its original version for Choir and Organ.

These works are complimented by Fauré’s Messe Basse for high voices, sung by the sixteen choristers of the Choir.

"The choir sings very well indeed – as you’d expect … Gerald Finley, another former King’s Choral Scholar, I believe, represents luxury casting for the baritone solos and his contribution is distinguished: I relished his warm, firm tone and the way in which he articulates the text … Tom Pickard…makes a splendid job of the solo, singing in an innocent, unaffected way and with exemplary control. Bravo!" (MusicWeb International)

"A familiar choral masterpiece in unfamiliar guise: the first recording of Fauré’s Requiem in Marc Rigaudière’s reconstruction of the first complete liturgical version, in 1889. Striking differences include darker orchestrations, a shorter Offertoire and plainer rhythms. That’s beautifully realised here by the period instruments of the OAE and the King’s College Cambridge Choir." (The Times)

"The first thing to be said about this Schumann cycle is how splendidly alert the orchestral playing is: the Scottish Chamber Orchestra must be one of the finest ensembles of its kind in the world today. Its principal conductor, Robin Ticciati, is very much on his toes, too, paying meticulous attention to detail throughout." (BBC Music Magazine)

Gerald Finley, baritone
Tom Pickard, treble
Douglas Tang, organ
Tom Etheridge, organ
The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Stephen Cleobury, conductor

The Choir of the Enlightenment
is formed of a group of professional singers, many of whom are soloists in their own right. In recent years the choir has appeared with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at British and European festivals, as well as regularly performing with them as part of their annual London concert series at the Southbank Centre.

The choir has taken part in many of the OAE’s recordings, including J S Bach cantatas bwv 205 and 114 and Purcell’s Odes for Queen Mary, both with Gustav Leonhardt, and Mozart’s Così fan tutte with Sir Simon Rattle, recorded live at Symphony Hall Birmingham. In July 2000, the choir and orchestra performed Bach’s B minor Mass on the 250th anniversary of his death. This concert, which was part of the bbc Proms Festival, was broadcast live on bbc Radio 3 and on bbc Television.

During recent seasons the Choir of the Enlightenment has performed Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas directed by Richard Egarr at the bbc Proms and at the Utrecht Festival; Charpentier’s David et Jonathas to celebrate the tercentenary of his death, (conducted by Emmanuelle Haïm) and has also taken part in performances of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and his version of Bach’s St Matthew Passion. The choir took part in the OAE’s 21st Birthday Celebrations, Tim Carroll’s production of Dido and Aeneas, Bach’s St John Passion with Mark Padmore, Handel’s Belshazzar at the bbc Proms, directed by Sir Charles Mackerras, Haydn’s The Return of Tobias, conducted by Sir Roger Norrington and more recently, a performance of Haydn’s Creation conducted by Sir Mark Elder.

Booklet for Fauré: Requiem & Messe basse