Opera Scotland

Mass no18 in C minor, K427 'Great' Mass no18 in C minor, K427

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Music

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (born Salzburg, 27 January 1756; died Vienna, 5 December 1791)

Text

Liturgy

 

Premieres

First Performance (3 sections): Salzburg (St Peter's Abbey), 26 October 1783.

First Performance in UK: tbc

First Performance in Scotland: tbc

 

Background

The Mass in C minor would have been Mozart's grandest piece of church music had he finished it - and the reason for its incomplete state has always been a bit of a mystery. Mozart finished the Kyrie, Gloria and Sanctus, which were performed in Salzburg. He left the Credo incomplete and did not touch the Agnus Dei. Other hands have since attempted to complete the orchestration and choral writing of the Credo and amendments to the Sanctus.

Unusually the solo roles are for two sopranos instead of soprano and alto, plus the usual tenor and bass. One of the sopranos was Mozart's wife Constanze.  The two female voices need to blend in duet as well providing contrast - the first voice generally providing a brighter sound.