Romanticism, according to Quentin, a 15-year-old after his first high school lesson on the subject, is simply “a man standing on a rock by a lake, saying ‘I’m in pain.’” While succinct, his definition captures the essence quite well!

Romanticism marked a shift toward the expression of pain and emotion, after centuries of glorifying reason, set against the backdrop of a majestic and awe-inspiring natural world. This hallmark of the movement is evident in every phrase of Charles Gounod’s sacred and secular melodies. As a devotee of both God and opera, Gounod portrays human emotion with passionate and profound gestures where no detail is insignificant.

Throughout this concert, Gounod erases the line between the secular and the sacred, speaking instead of pure emotion, a heartfelt expression where everything is elevated and deeply meaningful. The pairing of these melodies with pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach feels entirely natural. Not only did Gounod famously compose his Ave Maria based on Bach’s Prelude No. 1 in C major, but both composers, separated by two centuries of style, nationality, and history, share a common language: spirituality.