Méditation from Thaïs

Highlights Series · 21 Dec, 2025

"Note: In the Highlights Series, I’ll be sharing some performance videos that I really enjoy. My usual habit when listening to classical music is to look for recordings, but YouTube actually has a lot of wonderful performance videos. That’s why I started this series—to keep a record of some of the performances I love."

I actually discovered Massenet's Méditation from Thaïs by chance, and it all started with how I came to know David Chan.

I first came to know David Chan through attending concerts of the Taipei Music Academy & Festival. Since 2023, David Chan has been the violin teacher at the festival, so every time I went to their concerts, I would see him perform, and he left a strong impression on me.

Because he made such an impression, one day I decided to search for videos of his performances on YouTube. That’s when I stumbled upon a recording of him playing Méditation from Thaïs. After listening to it, I couldn’t help but think, "God, how can anyone write such beautiful music?" At the same time, David Chan’s performance was so moving and expressive, making the piece even more captivating.

That’s how I came to know Méditation from Thaïs, and I absolutely love this version of the performance.

This version features only the violin and harp, with no orchestra, performed by Renaud Capuçon and the hr-Sinfonieorchester’s harpist, Anne-Sophie Bertrand. Compared to the original version, this one sounds cleaner and more serene, and I enjoy it as well.