In 2024, The Svetlanov Legacy Charity, together with the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and the Orchestre de Paris, commissioned French composer Thierry Escaich to write a new work in tribute to the 100th anniversary of Gabriel Fauré’s death.
The piece, entitled Towards the Light (Vers la lumière), adopts the orchestration of Fauré’s Requiem — for choir, organ, and orchestra — and incorporates poetic and philosophical texts in several languages, from biblical verses to the writings of Lao-Tseu and François Cheng. Echoes of Fauré’s masterpiece resonate throughout, enriched by a large percussion section, leading the listener on a luminous journey toward a radiant, ecstatic climax.
The work was premiered by the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, conducted by Kazuki Yamada, with performances on 9–11 October 2024 at the Basilique Saint-Sernin in Toulouse. The Svetlanov Legacy Charity also supported the participation of the Tokyo Philharmonic Choir, which performed Fauré’s Requiem as part of the same project.
“Rich in diverse sonorities, particularly through an extensive percussion section, the work follows, as its title suggests, a luminous path, punctuated by poetic passages, leading to a magical ecstasy through an irresistible crescendo. Under the precise and attentive direction of Kazuki Yamada, the fusion between orchestra and choir occurs naturally. The qualities of intonation, timbre, and balance of voices consistently reach an exceptional level.” — Classic Toulouse