The return of our former musical director takes on a special significance with the hearing of Johannes Brahms’ German Requiem. This powerful work is rarely on the programme of our concerts and will be with the participation of two of today’s greatest voices. Brahms composed his longest choral work following two emotional shocks, the death of his mother and that of his friend Robert Schumann. Long matured, this Requiem does not follow the Catholic liturgy, it finds its origin in texts carefully chosen by Brahms in the German translation of the Bible.

No room for the dark threats of the Last Judgement in this peaceful score which on the contrary brings words of consolation to reassure the living. The message is addressed to all believers whatever their confession. A work of transition, it represents a decisive step between the composer’s youth and the style of his full maturity.