Mozart: Mass in C minor

Petersfield Musical Festival

The Mozart Mass in C minor features four top soloists, the Festival chorus with Fernhurst and Petersfield Choral Societies, and Southern Pro Musica. It will be conducted by Paul Spicer.

When Mozart married Constanze Weber – famously in defiance of his father’s wishes – he vowed to write a Mass in thankfulness. The Mass – like Mozart’s later Requiem – was never finished, but what we have is already a masterpiece of huge proportions, with monumental choruses for double choir, intricate contrapuntal movements, and soaring operatic solos. Mozart adapted the work for his shorter oratorio Davide penitente, which has been sung at the Festival, but this is the first time that the Festival has programmed the full Mass in C minor.

Southern Pro Musica, conducted by Paul Spicer, will also play Mozart's wonderful Symphony no. 40.