In 1881 Gabriel Fauré and André Messager spent their holidays in Villerville, Normandy. They wrote a mass out of thanks for the hospitality of the fishing village and the Clerc family in particular. The first performance took place in the village church by a group of ladies, who were also holidaymakers. Everyone thought it was so beautiful that the mass was repeated the following year: this time
… with the accompaniment of a small orchestra. Fauré would later convert some of the material into his famous Messe basse. The CD contains this charming Mass in the version from 1882. The CD also contains a high-profile recording of an early version of Fauré's Requiem. This 1893 version was attributed to the capabilities of the Madeleine, where Fauré was the choirmaster. The instrumental line-up is curious: brass, double bass and choir organ, but no violins and woodwinds. The present performance is impressive, as could be expected from a conductor who always does remarkably well in funerals. After getting acquainted with this version, listening to Herrewege's reading of the final version is an absolute must. (HJ)more
