The Bach Choir – Into Spring: Au Printemps – Duruflé Requiem

Au Printemps brings audiences closer than ever to The Bach Choir. In the fourth concert of our Into Spring series we present a tranquil and lush programme of French works for choir and organ, showcasing the range and intimacy of a choir usually known for performing with the world’s best orchestras.

The ancient world of Gregorian melodies is combined with a harmonic setting typical of 20th Century France in Duruflé’s Requiem. The Requiem blends different styles to achieve an overall sense of peace not usually found in other Requiem settings.

Cantique de Jean Racine was composed by Fauré at the age of twenty when he was attending Paris’ École Niedermeyer. It sets text from French playwright Jean Racine alongside rich, lush choral writing, and will be recognised by some audiences from its appearance in the motion picture Babe. Poulenc’s Quatre Motets pour un temps de pénitence continues the French theme and rounds out the evening.

As the fog of winter clears, Au Printemps brings The Bach Choir’s subtle and delicate side into focus