Reflection and Remembrance: Requiems by Fauré and Charpentier

Presented by Figure

Tickets Avail On The Door

Margins Cafe Open at 18:30 reservation required. Book here

Doors 19:00. Event Start 8pm

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult

Reduced-price and Concession tickets are available for Under 30s, students, under 18s, and anyone unwaged, unemployed or struggling with the cost of living.

It is unusual, but perhaps telling, that requiems – by Mozart, Verdi, Fauré, John Rutter, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and more – have become so popular and well known. This music may have been written in memory of the departed, but it is capable of bringing great comfort, guidance and even joy to our daily lives; as well as at times of loss and memorial. 

As we enter the season of remembrance in early November (including All Souls' Day, Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday), Figure invites you to pause and take stock as you are guided by the sacred music of Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) and Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704) on a musical, spoken and, at times, silent journey of reflection and remembrance. The choir and orchestra of Figure, conducted by Frederick Waxman, will be joined by special guest reader Donald Macleod and leading British soloists, Rowan Pierce (soprano) and Ashley Riches (bass-baritone)​​​.

Whilst Fauré’s Requiem is a firm favourite, with the bittersweet ‘Pie Jesu’ at its heart, Charpentier’s sacred music is heard all too rarely. The ‘requiem’ presented in this concert sees Charpentier's Messe pour les trépassés (Mass for the Departed) paired with his Prose des morts (a setting of the Dies Irae). Together they form a powerful musical journey, ranging from the fiery wrath of the Dies Irae at its centre, to the plaintive lamentations which open and close the mass. With echoes of Monteverdi’s celebrated Vespers of 1610, this music will leave a lasting impression and provide fascinating context to Fauré’s Requiem, also written in Paris some 200 years later.

All of the music presented in this concert is sacred music, written for and first-performed in Christian funeral services. These requiems were not intended to be performed as concert works, played from start to finish, but broken up and interspersed by formal words or personal reflections. Although this performance is being held in a church, it is not an act of worship. However, Figure hopes to capture some of the stillness, solemnity and poignancy of a church service by allowing the music space to breathe through moments of reflective poetry and prose, led by special guest reader, BBC Radio 3's Donald Macleod.

Donald Macleod (reader)
Rowan Pierce (soprano)
Ashley Riches (bass-baritone)
Figure (choir and orchestra)
Frederick Waxman (conductor/harpsichord)

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Founded by conductor and harpsichordist Frederick Waxman and praised by The Guardian for its “good ideas, good musicians and good support”, Figure is a forward-thinking historical performance ensemble. In short, ‘historical performance’ means performing music of the past using the instruments and techniques from the time of the music's creation. Figure represents the emerging generation of historically-minded musicians, eager to expand the scope of historical performance beyond the usual Baroque (1600-1750) and Renaissance (1400-1600) periods. In this concert, Figure will demonstrate two very different historical performance styles as it presents music from both the 17th and 19th centuries. In the Charpentier (thought to be composed in the 1670s) you can expect to see a ‘serpent’ (an ancestor of the tuba in the shape of a snake!); whilst in the Fauré (the 1893 chamber version) the string players will adopt the expressive playing style of late 19th-century France. Figure will also be joined by two celebrated British soloists, soprano Rowan Pierce and bass-baritone Ashley Riches. 

Figure’s previous events include Mozart’s Gran Partita, a sell-out performance of Bach’s St John Passion (praised for its “thrilling immediacy” by Michael Church, critic for The Independent), and Handel’s late operatic masterpiece Serse at Opera Holland Park (★★★★★ The Reviews Hub). Formed in the wake of the pandemic, a time when live music had almost evaporated, Figure has been shaped by the overwhelming desire to bring music back to live audiences. Prioritising intimacy in performance and the human connection which lends music so much of its meaning, Figure aims to marry the two by using space and light to bring audiences as close to their work as possible. Figure aims to offer more than just concerts, but experiences, as well as improving access to Classical music by taking it out of traditional venues and offering reduced-price tickets. This event has been generously supported by the Continuo Foundation.

Please note that seating for this event is unreserved.

Book For A Pre-Show Dinner

Make your free dinner reservation to eat at our Margins Café before the show!

You must have a general admission ticket for the show to gain entry for dinner.

Doors will open for early dinner ticket holders at 18:30. 

THIS WEEK'S MENU

Roasted organic chicken with sweet chilli, Dijon mustard and honey 
Kadai vegetable curry with mango chutney (vegan)
Shallot & garlic tart tatin (vegan)
Sundried tomato, basil, and olive tart (vegan)
Courgette, carrots, and halloumi muffins 
Selection of salads 

The Margins Café serves delicious, freshly prepared food at gigs and events.  All profits go towards The Margins Project, based here at the Chapel which works with people who face issues of homelessness and crisis.

Book Your Reservation HERE

More Information:

The venue has unreserved seating and are taken on a first come first serve basis. Please arrive early before event door times if you have preferred seats. Due to the nature of our venue, please be prepared to queue for entry.

The venue is fully accessible, with use of ramps and the upstairs bar is accessible with use of a platform lift. Please email [email protected] with your accessibility requirements.

The bar is located on the first floor of the venue and will be open pre-show from the stated door time and during the interval. The bar will be closed after the interval. 

Alcohol consumption will be limited to the bar area only, it is not permitted to take alcohol to the main chapel space.  An array of soft drinks and snacks will also be available and are permitted in the main space.