Fauré: Élégie, Op. 24

In 1880, after finishing his First Piano Quartet, Fauré began composing a cello sonata, beginning as he often did by composing the slow movement. Fauré never completed the sonata and In January 1883, the slow movement was published separately under the title Élégie. The premiere took place in December 1883 at the Société Nationale de Musique, performed by Fauré himself alongside cellist Jules Loeb, to whom the piece is dedicated. The work received an enthusiastic response right from the start. Conductor Édouard Colonne later requested an orchestral version, which Fauré agreed to create. This orchestral rendition was premiered at the Société Nationale in April 1901, featuring Pablo Casals as the soloist and Fauré conducting.