Our forthcoming concert will feature works by the incomparable Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The Coronation Mass K317 was completed in March 1779. Its first performance, at Salzburg Cathedral, was probably Easter Sunday of that year. The nickname was acquired after Mozart’s death because of its frequent appearances at coronations and other Imperial Court occasions. It is notable for the interplay of solo quartet and choir and especially for the beautiful Agnus Dei for soprano solo, often performed separately.
The Requiem was, as is well known, incomplete at Mozart’s death and the completion by his pupil Franz Xaver Süßmayr is the most frequently performed version of the work. There are several intriguing stories about it, including Mozart’s supposed belief that he was writing his own requiem. It has always been popular with singers and audiences alike. The Hull Bach Choir hope that others may wish to come and join us as we sing this marvellous piece.
The image above is of the Mozart family portrait painted by Johann Nepomuk della Croce probably in 1780. It shows Mozart and his sister, Maria Anna, playing a duet, while their father, Leopold, sits listening intently, violin in hand. The portrait on the wall is of Mozart's late mother, Anna Maria.