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CONCERT: Genesis of a Requiem

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Today's date is Friday, March 29, 2024
Genesis of a Requiem : Mozart's Inspiration Other events...
Mozart's Requiem has an almost mystical status within the canon of Classical choral music. The Perth Undergraduate Choral Society (PUCS) is delighted to present "Genesis of a Requiem," a concert which explores two masterworks which were among the key influences on Mozart's composition: Michael Haydn's Requiem in C Minor, and Handel's Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline. PUCS is thrilled to welcome back distinguished soprano Katja Webb, who returns to Perth for this concert along with performances with WA Opera in November. The concert also features the outstanding Fremantle Chamber Orchestra, and soloists Caitlin Cassidy, Andrew Sutherland and Thomas Friberg.

In January 1772, a 15 year old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart participated in the performance of a Requiem Mass for the Archbishop of Salzburg, Sigismund Graf von Schrattenbach. Wolfgang's father Leopold Mozart held the position of deputy Kapellmeister (director of music), and the recognised prodigy Wolfgang frequently performed as a part of the court orchestra. The Requiem for the Archbishop was composed by Johann Michael Haydn (younger brother of Josef Haydn), who was Kapellmeister at the time, and whom had had a close association with the Archbishop. The profoundly moving work was no doubt heavily influenced by the death of Haydn's infant daughter early in 1771.

Michael Haydn's Requiem had a profound impact on the young Mozart, who made extensive use of themes from the Requiem in his own compositions. Twenty years later, when Mozart was commissioned to compose his own Requiem, he used the Michael Haydn work as a model for its structure, as well as revisiting many of Haydn's themes and ideas in his own work. Listeners familiar with the Mozart Requiem will be astonished by the parallels and common themes between the two works.

Mozart also modelled much of his liturgical writing after another master composer, George Frideric Handel. For the Requiem, he naturally turned to Handel's own funeral compositions, including an elaborate Anthem for the Funeral of Queen Caroline in 1737. Mozart's familiar opening introit is based extensively on the opening chorus of Handel's anthem (a fact which was acknowledged by Mozart himself).

The two masterpieces on the program are surprisingly neglected - the performance of the Handel Anthem will be the first in Western Australia, and the performance of the Haydn Requiem may be only the second.

Tickets will be available at the door, via BOCS online, at their ticket outlets or by phone 9484 1133
Location Winthrop Hall
Contact PUCS Publicity Officer <[email protected]>
Start Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:30
End Sat, 01 Oct 2011 21:45
Submitted by PUCS Publicity Officer <[email protected]>
Last Updated Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:01
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