Mozart's Requiem and Haydn's Nelson Mass

Durham Choral Society

Durham Choral Society and Leeds Philharmonic Chorus invite you to a joint concert where they will perform 18th Century Music.  The ever-popular Mozart Requiem will be performed, as will Haydn's Nelson Mass, also known as 'Mass for Troubled Times'.  Singing in Durham Cathedral goes back 1000 years and this concert continues the tradition of glorious choral music in Durham Choral Society’s 60th season.

Mozart started his Requiem Mass in 1791 but it was unfinished at the time of his death in December that year.  It was completed by Franz Xaver Sussmayr and first performed in February 1792.  Mozart's wife, Constanze, claimed that he came to believe that he was writing the requiem for his own funeral as well as for Count von Welsegg who commissioned the work.

A Mass for Troubled times (Missa in Angustiis) is one of 14 masses written by Josef Haydn and is one of six masses written for the Esterhazy Family at the time Napoleon was causing turmoil in Europe. It became known as the Nelson Mass because on the day it was first performed, Admiral Nelson dealt Napoleon a stunning defeat in The Battle of The Nile.

More information about Durham Choral Society and Leeds Philharmonic Chorus can be found on their websites

www.durhamchoralsociety.org.uk    https://www.leedsphil.com/