Last Thursday lunchtime’s Noon at Met concert was given by the UoT’s Schola Cantorum conducted by Daniel Taylor with Jonathan Oldengarm at Met’s very impressive organ. The music was Fauré’s rather unusual Requiem op.45.  I say unusual because it’s much more gentle and lyrical  than most, not least because there’s no Dies Irae.  That’s cut except for the Pie Jesu section.  Also it finishes with the hopeful In Paradisum from the Burial Service.  Apparently this is because Fauré was most definitely not an orthodox Catholic rather lying somewhere on a spectrum from theist to agnostic but obviously still aware that we all die and we all grieve.

It was a very nicely controlled and skilful performance with a couple of really excellent solos from soprano Emma McNeil and very decent solo input from baritone Henry Paterson.  The organ part shows off the fine instrument and Jonathan’s excellent playing.  I thought the Sanctus was particularly lovely.

And where better to hear sacred music than the splendid surroundings of Metropolitan United?

As always the whole concert is available free on Youtube.