Summary: This week we are going to break away from the Sir Neville Marriner recordings as we have reached a milestone in young Mozart’s life that was too important to pass. When Amadeus was 12 years old, he was commissioned by the Jesuit priest, Father Ignaz Parhammer to compose music for the consecration of the new Orphanage Church in Vienna. Mozart not only accepted the commission, but he also wrote a Trumpet Concerto, suitable to be performed by a young boy as the offertory. However, due to cataloging errors, both works were considered lost for many years. The premiere performance of the “Mass in C minor or Missa Solemnis” took place on December 7, 1768, in the presence of the court. The 12-year-old Mozart conducted the performance which consisted of boys at the new orphanage who handled all the parts in the chorus and orchestra. This may sound like a calamity waiting to happen, but the reviews of the concert called it “resounding with universal acclaim and utmost admiration.” This mass is considered to be Mozart’s most ambitious work to be performed up until that point in time. This performance by the CMD German Opera Company of Berlin and conducted by Dominique Beaulieu was performed and recorded in the Orphanage Church of Vienna and is available now at ClassicalRecordings.co
