Requiem in D minor, Op. 48

Fauré's Requiem (1887–1900) is one of the most original and beloved choral works in the repertoire, distinguished above all by its serene acceptance of death rather than the terror and drama found in the Requiems of Berlioz or Verdi. Fauré famously described it as 'a lullaby of death,' and its luminous, transparent orchestration — with divided violas replacing violins as the principal string voice — creates an otherworldly sweetness unique in the liturgical repertoire. The work exists in three versions: the intimate chamber original of 1887–88, an expanded version of 1893, and the full orchestral version published in 1900; many conductors prefer the 1893 version for its balance of intimacy and breadth. The soprano solo in 'Pie Jesu' — one of the most radiant pages in Western music — is usually assigned to a boy soprano or light soprano voice. The final movement, 'In Paradisum,' conjures a vision of paradise of ineffable calm.