All Saints, Weston - Saturday 28 January 2006
A newly discovered painting of Mozart in Munich 1790 by Johann Georg Edlinger (Gemäldegalerie, Berlin)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on the evening of 27th January 1756 into a musical family living in Salzburg, Austria. From comic operas and dazzling concertos to a little light, night music and the solemnity of a requiem, Mozart's prodigious legacy has given us some of the finest works in the classical repertoire.
A child prodigy, who was playing and composing before most other children could write, Mozart produced an enormous output in his short life of 35 years, and yet he dies penniless. His first piece he wrote was a Minuet and Trio (K 1). His last work was the Requiem, mostly written in the final days of his life.
Over the centuries, much has been written about this extraordinary artist whose work today is loved and valued perhaps more than any other composer. To take one single view of this work, E.T.A. Hoffmann wrote in 1814 of the Requiem that 'the music remains devotional throughout; pure devotion resonates through these awe-inspiring chords which speak of another world, and which in their singular dignity and power are themselves another world'. About Mozart, Haydn wrote 'I tell you before God, as an honest man, he is the greatest composer known to me in person and by name'.
The programme for our concert, a celebration of the life of Mozart, begins with his very first composition and includes one of his sacred litanies (KI09) for the Blessed Virgin Mary, a beautiful work that is virtually a 'mini' requiem, often using the same D minor key. It is written for 4 soloists, choir and orchestra. The first half also has the short well-known 'Ave verum corpus' motet written in his last year. We shall also hear a concerto, one of his Horn concertos No.2 in E flat -, played by Kevin Adams. After the interval when wine will be served, the Primavera Chorus and Orchestra and soloists return to give a performance of the 'Requiem'.
The concert is being given in support of two charities, firstly the 'Home of Compassion' in Thames Ditton, marking its own centenary this year.
The other charity is the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in Putney, a specialist hospital and home that has just celebrated its own 150th anniversary since being founded by the Rev Dr Andrew Reed, Victorian philanthropist and preacher. He is also the great great great grandfather of the conductor of this concert, Douglas Reed, currently music director at All Saints Weston.
The concert on the 28th January begins at 8pm. Tickets are £20 and include a donation to each charity, as well as interval refreshments. They are available from the church on 0208 3981849, or from 0208 398 0625. Waitrose are the principal sponsor.
Douglas Reed