“An evening of beautiful uplifting music”—that’s how reviewer Marguerite Webber described Gabriel Faure’s Requiem 14 years ago when Noosa Chorale, conducted by Adrian King, performed it at the Bicentennial Hall.
And Adrian is promising a repeat performance when the Chorale presents the Requiem and Karl Jenkins’ inspiring Sabat Mater at the J on May 27 and 28.
Adrian has been bringing out the best in choirs for more than 50 years (he started when he was 19) and he told Noosa Today his regard for Faure’s music went back to when he was music master at St James‘ Choir School at Grimsby in the UK.
“The School Chamber Choir also produced evening concerts where I programmed works such as Fauré’s Requiem, his Cantique de Jean Racine and Pavane.
“The programmes varied from year to year but included many of Faure’s miniature musical gems such as Berceuse for violin and piano and Élégie, Romance and Sicilienne for cello and piano.
“I believe the Requiem is truly an inspirational work of art. Faure wanted this piece to be different, not just another funeral song.
“His aim was to make it feel like a peaceful transition and he definitely succeeded as you can hear from the calm, lightness and serenity throughout the piece.
“Gabriel Fauré said, he wrote this work purely ‘for the pleasure of it’ and unlike many Requiems, the work is imbued with a sense of warmth and optimism.
“Some of the music audiences will recognise range from the well-known Hostias and Libera Me for solo baritone, the transient purity of the much loved Pie Jesu soprano solo to the memorable In Paradisum, with its magical accompaniment.
“Fauré’s setting seems gentle and unassuming, yet it is this very quality of understatement that contributes so eloquently to the work’s universal appeal, and it is impossible not to be moved by the ethereal beauty of this humble masterpiece.”
Asked about Stabat Mater by Karl Jenkins, composer of The Armed Man which has thrilled Noosa audiences in recent years, Adrian said, As a composer, Jenkins manages to combine very different styles of music from classical to pop and to draw on different cultures from around the globe.
“Not unlike The Armed Man, Stabat Mater text is drawn from many parts of the world and from diverse religions and cultures. In addition, the music too, is cosmopolitan in its inspiration.”
In 2012 Noosa Chorale performed The Armed Man with video footage and images drawn from the military, social and political conflicts of the 20th century.
It was repeated for the Anzac Centenary commemoration of the Gallipoli Landing concert in April 2015.
Adrian added: “We are also fortunate to have three outstanding soloists, soprano Annika Hinrichs and baritone Timothy Newton who will sing the Requiem and mezzo soprano Shirin Majd for the Stabat Mater.”
Noosa Chorale, In Paradisium. The J, Noosa Junction. Friday 27 May at 7pm and Saturday 28 May at 2pm. Tickets $45. Book online at thej.com.au
