Free Fauré Concert in Ognissanti

The church of Ognissanti will come alive with the sound of classical music on Sunday, January 28 at 4:15 pm with a free concert. The performance is organized by the International Youth Orchestra Festival and the San Felice Academy (London) in collaboration with Florence’s Cathedral.  The program will feature the music of French composer Gabriel Fauré, specifically his Requiem in D minor.  Its focus is on eternal rest and consolation.

The orchestral part will be entrusted to an ensemble composed of young Japanese artist Maki Hirota (violin), Susanna Bertuccioli (harp) of the Maggio Musicale Orchestra and Enrico Vettori (organ), professor of the Diocesan Institute of Sacred Music of the Florence Archdiocese.  The Pueri Cantores of the Cathedral of Florence will join the trio and, to complete the Florentine-Japanese musical twinning, so will the Fauré Concert Choir from Japan and soloists Tomone Sawada, Saho Ueda, Yuki Kusama and Kazuhisa Tashiro.

In 1887–88, Fauré composed the first version of the work, which he called “un petit Requiem” with five movements (Introit and Kyrie, Sanctus, Pie Jesu, Agnus Dei and In Paradisum).  Hideyuki Tsui will conduct the composition, which had its world premiere in Paris’s Church de la Madeleine on January 16, 1888.  This special occasion is meant to mark the 130th anniversary of the first performance.

The church also contains the Botticelli mural “St. Augustine in his study.”  Admission is free and the public is welcome.  For info: 055/611299 or visit www.florenceyouthfestival.com, (elise loveless)