Gabriel Fauré: Requiem and the 2026 RMP Aria Final

Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem in D minor, Op. 48, composed between 1887 and 1900, is one of the world’s most beloved choral works. Known for its serene, comforting tone, lyrical melodies and lush harmonies, Fauré famously described it as a “lullaby of death”. Unlike Verdi’s or Mozart’s Requiems, Fauré omitted the terrifying Dies irae, viewing death instead as a “happy deliverance”. As a result, the Fauré Requiem is often regarded as one of the most uplifting choral settings of the ancient text.

Featuring:
Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir
Melbourne University Choral Society, Box Hill Chorale
Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra
Stefan Cassomenos piano (official accompanist)
Andrew Bainbridge, organ
Jeremy Kleeman, baritone
Andrew Wailes conductor

TWO CONCERTS:

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Afternoon one hour concert performance including Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, Cantique de Jean Racine, Ave Maria , Tu es Petrus, and works by Ola Gjeilo and Elaine Hagenberg

7:00 pm – 9.45 pm – Evening Aria Final and evening performance of Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine