Fauré and His World

Fauré and His World - A centenary celebration

RBC’s centenary celebration of Gabriel Fauré explores this key figure through the lens of the Parisian salons underpinning French culture during his lifetime. It was a world where performance was less formal than the concert hall, with key musical works heard first among friends, and where women composers and performers were accepted on more equal terms.

With internationally renowned pianist Pascal Rogé as artist-in-residence, these lunchtime and evening events seek to capture the spirit of the times, presenting a variety of genres in a relaxed atmosphere, with works by Fauré nestling among music by a diverse range of his contemporaries.

Monday 11 November

1.05 - 2pm

Lunchtimes in the Salon
Atéa Wind Quintet, with Victor Sangiorgio piano

2.30 - 4pm

Playing Fauré’s chamber music - Masterclass
Robin Michael cello, Daniel Tong piano

5.30 - 7pm

Concert and CD Launch
Robin Michael cello, Daniel Tong piano
A concert marking the new recording of Fauré’s cello sonatas, performed on period instruments.

Tuesday 12 November

10am - 12pm

Masterclass with Pascal Rogé

1.05 - 2pm

Lunchtimes in the salon
Fauré’s vocal masterpiece, the song cycle La Chanson d’Ève is at the heart of a concert that also features chamber works and Ravel’s Jeux d’eau.

2.30 - 4.30pm

Masterclass with Pascal Rogé
Pascal Rogé works with visiting students from the Purcell School.

Wednesday 13 November

1.05 - 2pm

Lunchtimes in the Salon
Another mixed genre concert, including works by Marie Jaëll, Tournier, Chausson and, of course, Fauré.

2.30 - 4.30pm

Pascal Rogé Chamber Music Masterclass

7.30pm

Soirées in the salon – Pascal Rogé and friends
Mel Bonis’s exquisite first Piano Quartet is balanced by the intense emotions of Vierne’s Piano Quintet, interspersed with shorted works by Saint-Saëns, Liszt and the charms of Fauré’s Dolly Suite.

Thursday 14 November

1.05 - 2pm

Lunchtimes in the Salon
The subtle charms of Fauré’s Second Violin Sonata form the centrepiece of a concert also featuring Mel Bonis’s little-known Cello Sonata.

7.30- 9pm

Soirées in the salon
Pascal Rogé and friends A concert featuring two of Fauré’s supreme chamber masterpieces, the Piano Trio and the Piano Quartet No.1 alongside music by Debussy and Mel Bonis.

Friday 15 November

1.05 - 2pm

Lunchtimes in the Salon
In advance of an all-too-rare opportunity to hear the piano quintet version of Fauré’s song cycle La bonne chanson on Friday 13 December, today’s concert features an opportunity to hear these songs in the voice and piano version, interspersed with other music by Fauré and contemporaries such as Mel Bonis.

7.30pm

Soirées in the Salon
Pascal Rogé and friends Two extraordinary masterpieces for piano and strings, Fauré’s second Piano Quartet and the first Piano Quintet will interleave with songs and solo pieces by Fauré and his contemporaries.

Friday 13 December

7pm

Fauré and His World: Coda
As a coda to the Fauré and his World festival, this soirée concert features the rarely heard piano quintet versions of Chausson’s Chanson perpétuelle and Fauré’s La bonne chanson, alongside chamber and solo music by Fauré and his contemporaries.