Towards the Light with Mendelssohn and Fauré

The concert moves from contemplation to romantic drama and concludes with Fauré's beloved Requiem - a work known for its luminous, consoling tone rather than dramatic apocalyptic rhetoric.

The programme opens with Lili Boulanger's "Ancient Buddhist Prayer", an early 20th-century work inspired by Buddhist textual tradition, marked by contemplation and mysticism. This is followed by Franz Schreker's chamber symphony, a late-romantic modernist work with dense orchestration and rich sonority. Mendelssohn's concert overture, inspired by two poems by Goethe, depicts the sea's mirror-smooth stillness and sudden movement. The concert concludes with Fauré's Requiem, performed by orchestra, choir and soloists.

An hour before the concert, an introduction is held in the Great Hall - approximately 30 minutes of stories about the works, the composers and personal reflections. The introduction is included in the ticket price and has free seating.