The Louisville Choral Arts Society will perform Mozart’s “Great Mass” in C minor, K. 427 tomorrow evening, Friday, March 25 at 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of St. Francis in the Fields, 6710 Wolf Pen Branch Road 40027.
Artistc Director James Rightmyer will conduct the performance featuring soloists: Leslie Fagan, soprano; Daniel Weeks, tenor; and Philip Morgan, bass.
Mozart began the composition in 1782 and premiered the Kyrie and Gloria on October 26 of the following year during Mass at St. Peter’s Abbey in his hometown of Salzburg with his wife Constanze singing the soprano solo. The work is considered by many to be musically superior to his later Requiem, though it is performed less often.
Rightmyer and the chamber orchestra will be joined tomorrow evening by soloist Nancy Albrink for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491. During the first three months of 1786 Mozart was at the height of his talent and creative energy. During that time the composer finished off his piano concertos Nos. 22 and 23 and, a month after the completion of No. 24, premiered his opera Le Nozze di Figaro. Although there is no extant documentation of his Viennese patron’s response one suspects they were much surprised by this innovative work so unlike his previous offerings. This is one of only two piano concertos Mozart composed in a minor key, the waltz signature of the first movement is unique as is his use of both clarinet and oboe.
Tickets for the Louisville Choral Arts Society concert are $20, $15 for patrons over 60 and $10 for students. For advance tickets call 502.228.1176.
To refresh your memory of the “Great Mass” I’ve added this recording with John Eliot Gardiner.