Fabulous choral works!
September 19, 2002

Mozart's Great Mass, the famous Requiem, and all of the other pieces on this set are just fantastic. The first few discs overflow with invention and joy. Such music! The great K. 427 is one of the best versions I've ever heard (phew!), and the first half of the Requiem---the part written primarily by Mozart---is on the money. Maybe Mozart preferred writing opera, but it sure doesn't show here. Excelsior!

Works on This Recording

1. Requiem in D minor, K 626 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Francisco Araiza (Tenor), Trudeliese Schmidt (Alto), Margaret Price (Soprano), Theo Adam (Bass)
Conductor: Peter Schreier
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Dresden Staatskapelle
Period: Classical
Written: 1791; Vienna, Austria
Language: Latin

2. Mass in C minor, K 427 (417a) "Great" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Sylvia McNair (Soprano), Diana Montague (Soprano), Cornelius Hauptmann (Bass), Lisa Beznosiuk (Flute), Anthony Robson (Oboe), Alastair Mitchell (Bassoon), Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Tenor)
Conductor: John Eliot Gardiner
Orchestra/Ensemble: English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir
Period: Classical
Written: 1782-1783; Vienna, Austria
Language: Latin

3. Mass in C major, K 66 "Dominicus Mass" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Jan-Hendrik Rootering (Bass), Uwe Heilmann (Tenor), Rosemarie Lang (Alto), Edith Mathis (Soprano), Michael-Christfried Winkler (Organ)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1769; Salzburg, Austria

4. Missa brevis in G major, K 49 (47d) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Michael-Christfried Winkler (Organ), Jan-Hendrik Rootering (Bass), Uwe Heilmann (Tenor), Rosemarie Lang (Alto), Edith Mathis (Soprano)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1768; Vienna, Austria

5. Mass in C major, K 167 "In Honorem Sanctissimae Trinitatis" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Michael-Christfried Winkler (Organ), Andreas Schmidt (Bass), Uwe Heilmann (Tenor), Annette Markert (Alto), Helen Donath (Soprano)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1773; Salzburg, Austria

6. Missa brevis in G major, K 140 "Pastoral" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Andreas Schmidt (Bass), Uwe Heilmann (Tenor), Annette Markert (Alto), Helen Donath (Soprano), Michael-Christfried Winkler (Organ)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1773; Salzburg, Austria

7. Missa brevis in D minor, K 65 (61a) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Andreas Schmidt (Bass), Uwe Heilmann (Tenor), Annette Markert (Alto), Helen Donath (Soprano), Michael-Christfried Winkler (Organ)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1761; Salzburg, Austria

8. Missa solemnis in C major, K 337 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Hermann-Christian Polster (Bass), Aldo Baldin (Tenor), Rosemarie Lang (Alto), Mitsuko Shirai (Soprano), Michael-Christfried Winkler (Organ)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1780; Salzburg, Austria

9. Missa brevis in D major, K 194 (186h) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Hermann-Christian Polster (Bass), Aldo Baldin (Tenor), Rosemarie Lang (Alto), Mitsuko Shirai (Soprano), Michael-Christfried Winkler (Organ)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1774; Salzburg, Austria

10. Missa brevis in B flat major, K 275 (272b) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Hermann-Christian Polster (Bass), Aldo Baldin (Tenor), Rosemarie Lang (Alto), Mitsuko Shirai (Soprano), Michael-Christfried Winkler (Organ)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1777; Salzburg, Austria

11. Missa solemnis in C minor, K 139 (47a) "Waisenhausmesse" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Hermann-Christian Polster (Bass), Peter Schreier (Tenor), Annelies Burmeister (Alto), Celestina Casapietra (Soprano), Walter Heinz Bernstein (Organ)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1768; Vienna, Austria

12. Missa brevis in C major, K 259 "Organ Solo" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Hermann-Christian Polster (Bass), Peter Schreier (Tenor), Annelies Burmeister (Alto), Celestina Casapietra (Soprano), Walter Heinz Bernstein (Organ)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1776; Salzburg, Austria

13. Missa brevis in F major, K 192 (186f) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Walter Heinz Bernstein (Organ), Hermann-Christian Polster (Bass), Annelies Burmeister (Alto), Celestina Casapietra (Soprano), Peter Schreier (Tenor)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1774; Salzburg, Austria

14. Mass in C major, K 257 "Credo" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Helen Donath (Soprano), Clifford Grant (Bass), Ryland Davies (Tenor), Gillian Knight (Alto), John Constable (Organ)
Conductor: Sir Colin Davis
Orchestra/Ensemble: John Alldis Choir, London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1776; Salzburg, Austria

15. Mass in C major, K 317 "Coronation" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Vienna Boys Choir Soloist (Boy Alto), Vienna Boys Choir Soloist (Boy Soprano), Peter Jelosits (Tenor), Gerhard Eder (Bass), Michael G. Gormley (Organ)
Conductor: Uwe Christian Harrer
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chorus Viennensis, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Boys' Choir
Period: Classical
Written: 1779; Salzburg, Austria

16. Missa brevis in C major, K 220 (196b) "Spatzenmesse" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Michael G. Gormley (Organ), Vienna Boys Choir Soloist (Boy Soprano), Vienna Boys Choir Soloist (Boy Alto), Peter Jelosits (Tenor), Gerhard Eder (Bass)
Conductor: Uwe Christian Harrer
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chorus Viennensis, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Boys' Choir
Period: Classical
Written: 1775-1776; Salzburg, Austria

17. Missa brevis in C major, K 258 "Spaur" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Walter Heinz Bernstein (Organ), Hermann-Christian Polster (Bass), Armin Ude (Tenor), Marga Schiml (Alto), Mitsuko Shirai (Soprano)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1776; Salzburg, Austria

18. Missa longa in C major, K 262 (246a) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Walter Heinz Bernstein (Organ), Marga Schiml (Alto), Mitsuko Shirai (Soprano), Armin Ude (Tenor), Hermann-Christian Polster (Bass)
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1775; Salzburg, Austria