Conceived less than ten years apart, Fauré’s Requiem and Liszt’s Via Crucis are linked by the same demand for spiritual purity and simplicity, reflected in the highly refined original formation of these pages. Fauré, who admired Liszt, had come to meet him in Weimar in 1877, accompanied by his teacher Camille Saint-Saëns. Liszt was particularly fond of Fauré’s music – his library contained some twenty scores by the French composer, including melodies.

On the occasion of Gabriel Fauré’s centenary in 2024, the Aedes ensemble will perform his Requiem, a universally acclaimed work that had already captivated audiences at its premiere in 1893. It is this original version for a cappella choir and organ that Aedes, under the direction of Mathieu Romano, will perform.

Franz Liszt, Via Crucis (excerpts)
Gabriel Fauré, Requiem

Ensemble Aedes
Roxane Chalard soprano
Mathieu Dubroca baryton
Christophe Durant organ
Mathieu Romano conductor

Fauré’s Requiem and Figure Humaine, released on CD in 2019 (Aparté), have been enthusiastically received by audiences and critics (ffff Télérama, 5 Diapasons, ***** Classica) : more about