Music arrangers Neil Crossland and Paul Wood have joined forces to create a stunning new arrangement of Jules Massenet’s Méditation from Thaïs for solo violin, solo cello, and string orchestra. This inspired reimagining of Massenet’s beloved work retains the original’s lyrical beauty and spiritual depth while introducing a captivating dialogue between the violin and cello soloists. Supported by the rich sonorities of the string orchestra, the interplay between the two solo instruments adds new emotional dimension and balance. This arrangement serves as a prime addition to any concert platform showcasing both soloists, offering audiences a profoundly expressive and harmonically refined interpretation of Massenet’s timeless masterpiece.
About the Piece
Jules Massenet's Méditation is, of course, the famous orchestral intermezzo from his opera Thaïs (1894), played just before the second act. In the opera, the music depicts the monk Athanaël's struggle as the courtesan Thaïs contemplates abandoning her life of pleasure. It's an exquisite moment of spiritual and emotional reflection, famed for its tender, soaring melody that immediately transports the listener.
What makes this arrangement, a joint collaboration between myself, Neil Crossland, and the brilliant Paul Wood (you can find more of his excellent work at https://mymusicscores.com/) so special is the transformation of the solo line. We’ve kept the lush, atmospheric accompaniment for String Orchestra, but the famous melody is now a duet by the Violin and the Cello.
