As Sage One filled with a mostly older crowd, it struck me how underappreciated the live classical music is among our generation. Personally, it also took me years to fully appreciate its meditative effect. It may sound cheesy, but classical music, especially when performed live, has this dreamlike quality that allows me tap into unexplored corners of my brain, weaving stories as the music unfolds. This concert was no exception.
The program opened with ‘Pavane’, originally written as a piano piece but later arranged by Fauré for choir and orchestra – and thank God it was! The plucked, 'pizzicato' strings, layered with the rich voices of the RNS Chorus made for a gentle yet captivating introduction to the works of the French composer. Immediately, I knew this performance would offer some warmth on an otherwise dreary February day.
Following a warm welcome by Jeannin, the orchestra performed the ‘Pelléas et Mélisande Suite’, the first of four compositions to be inspired by Maurice Maeterlinck’s drama of the same name.
Next came ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’, composed as a competition entry by a young Fauré – and one that won him first prize. I had only been vaguely familiar with this piece before the concert, but experiencing this live was a whole other story. Chills ran through my entire body the moment the orchestra and choir came together and my friend was looking equally as stunned when we looked at each other in disbelief. That moment truly encapsulated the power of live classical music.
After a 20-minute interval, it was time for the grand finale: ‘Requiem’, also referred to as a ‘death lullaby’. Though that may sound dramatic, Fauré’s ‘Requiem’ is meant to be deeply comforting, soothing and even hopeful. That comfort was palpable in the performance by the RNS. Featuring the stunning vocals of baritone Roderick Williams and soprano Alexandra Lowe, who had to step in last minute, the performance felt otherworldly. It had that effect I mentioned earlier, transporting me to a space where time stood still for a while. Only the applause brought me back to Sage One, waking me from my meditative trance.
To me, experiences like this reaffirm that classical music simply cannot go out of style. It has a unique power to move us, inspire us, and to provide solace in a way few other art forms can. Especially with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and The Glasshouse right here across the Tyne, I urge everyone to give these fabulous concerts a chance. Go in with an open mind and you might just be pleasantly surprised by the stories your mind begins to tell.
Tickets for most classical concerts at the Glasshouse are just £10 for anyone under 30.