Mass in C

For Mozart, religious repertoire was not just written to order or as a necessary step on the musical ladder, but as a genre in its own right, which he cultivated regularly throughout his career. Even in his earliest and already promising Masses, the musician demonstrated a mastery of instrumental polyphony and vocality. The Mass in C minor is influenced by Bach and Handel, notably in the major choruses. There are also some Italian influences in the solo parts, such as the dazzling Gloria, which are straight out of opera. Although this Mass in C minor is unfinished – Requiem aside – it represents the peak of Mozart’s achievement in the sacred music sphere. Mozart’s last symphony, another great in its own genre, will open this concert.

Production Théâtre des Champs-Elysées
France Musique broadcasts this concert on 22nd of May 2023