Nikki Chooi Photo: Supplied
The 'Méditation' comes from Jules Massenet's opera Thaïs (1894) and serves as an instrumental entr'acte for solo violin and orchestra between scenes of Act II.
In the first scene, Athanaël (a monk) asks Thaïs (a courtesan) to consider leaving her luxurious lifestyle and finding salvation through God.
The second scene immediately following the period of reflection represented by the 'Méditation' shows Thaïs agreeing to follow Athanaël into the desert.
Recorded in Nelson Centre of Musical Arts by RNZ
Sound engineer: Darryl Stack
