To hear the Faure Requiem performed in the Lismore Parish Church on the 30 August 2025 was a great and unusual treat. The 70 plus singers were mainly from Canada with others from Lismore and the rest of Britain.
Faure requiem Aug 2025
The idea started in the mind of the choir director from Vancouver, Alison Nixon, who was no stranger to the island as her parents – the late Archie and Marjorie Campbell – had been coming to Carnie Cottage for many years and her 3 sisters – Mairi, Ann and Sarah are residents.
The singers arrived a week before ready for a hectic programme of rehearsals. In between, they were fed in the Lismore Hall by a squad of locals organised by Ann Campbell who was also the driver of the community bus which ferried many to various destinations.
Faure Requiem 30 Aug 2025 feeding the choristers
Faure Requiem 30 Aug 2025 feeding the choristers
Hospitality was not lacking, but it is not easy or even possible for so many visitors to be accommodated on the island, so some inevitably stayed on the mainland and travelled daily.
The performance was impressive with the church piano substituted for the orchestra and played at short notice by Angus Murphy-Lennox after the original pianist met with an accident. His contribution cannot be overstated as he was vital to the coherence of the performance. There were no soloists apart from Mairi Campbell and her plangent viola. The central soprano solo – Pie Jesu – was a miss but the full soprano line was strong, unified and moving.
Faure Requiem 30 Aug 2025 rehearsing
Faure Requiem 30 Aug 2025 performing
By way of an introduction, Sarah Campbell conducted an ensemble from Lismore Voices – a group she works with regularly. – singing ‘And so it goes’, written by Billy Joel and arranged by Bob Chilcott. A larger a capella group of visitors and locals sang ‘Charm’ , by Ali Burns. Inspired by verses from the Carmina Gadelica, a compendium of folkloric poems and songs, gathered and reworked by Lismore’s own Alexander Carmichael. (1832–1912).
Aug 2025 Lismore Voices with Sarah Campbell
Aug 2025 Lismore voices (plus) with Sarah Campbell
At the end of the Requiem, Alison Nixon presented Sebastian Tombs, chair of Kilmoluag Liosmor ,the Trust working for the long-term future of the church, with an unexpected and generous donation well in excess of $1,000 Canadian from the choir members! Sebastian expressed the community’s deep gratitude for choosing the building as a venue for this week-long adventure, bringing new life and wonderful sound to the island – and contributing so generously to realising the church’s future.
Faure Requiem Alison Nixon and Sebastian Tombs 30 Aug 2025