Magnificent concert with Gabriel Fauré's Requiem and premiere of a new work by Karin Rehnqvist
Experience the unique interaction between Ensemble Allegria and the Soloist Choir under the direction of conductor Grete Pedersen! Together, Gabriel Fauré performs his beautiful Requiem and Day is here! by Karin Rehnqvist – a moving work about nature and the creation of the Earth.
With his Requiem, Gabriel Fauré has gained a large place in the hearts of many. The work is melodic and beautiful and is one of the world's most performed works for choir and orchestra.
While several great requiems contain strong contrasts and bet on doomsday, Fauré's requiem is characterized by calm, hope and a brighter view of life after death.
The concert also offers the premiere of Day is here! by Karin Rehnqvist – one of Sweden's leading composers.
With playful trills and shimmering sounds, the work depicts the beauty of nature and man's deep connection to it. A moving piece about the creation of the Earth and the current situation where we are faced with major climate changes.
- I am writing these words at the end of a hot, dry summer in Sweden and large parts of Northern Europe. It hasn't rained in three months. Forest fires have ravaged; temperatures have topped 30ºC for several weeks. The heat is new and terrifying. Is this the climate change that scientists have been warning us about for so long? What can we do? What must we do?
The first performance was to take place the same summer as Karin describes in the quote above. But that night it started to wind, rain and thunder so much that the concert had to be cancelled. The incident has a wonderful parallel to the play itself, which ends with a prayer for rain to the text:
In beauty may I dwell.
In beauty may I walk –
In beauty may it rain on us –
This year's All Saints' Day tour ends under Munch's sun in the University's auditorium. Here from the All Saints concert in 2019.
The text in Day is here! is composed of a Swedish hymn and traditional texts from the American indigenous peoples Pawnee, Tohono O'odham and Navajo. Several of them are about a question Karin Rehnqvist has always been concerned with: What are the most important premises for our survival?
Hamar
Friday November 4th 18.00
Fredrikstad
Saturday November 5th 18.00
Oslo
Sunday November 6th 18.00