Mozart and Handel from King's College, Cambridge

In a special performance recorded at the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge as part of the Cambridge Music Festival, the BBC Singers and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment conducted by Daniel Hyde join forces in a programme of choral favourites by Mozart and Handel.

Mozart’s ‘Great’ Mass in C minor, K427 is his monumental unfinished large-scale setting of the Catholic Mass composed in 1782-83. The nickname “Great” reflects its grand scale and musical breadth. Although left incomplete (portions of the Credo and the entire Agnus Dei are missing), it is regarded as one of Mozart’s greatest works, renowned for its profound artistry and fusion of styles and matched only by his great Requiem. Described by Alfred Einstein, foremost of Mozart’s biographers, as “his entirely personal coming to terms with God and his art, with what he conceived to be ‘true church music‘.”

After the interval, Handel’s Dixit dominus takes centre stage. This setting of Psalm 110 which opens with the words Dixit dominus The Lord Said is one of Handel’s earliest choral works, written in Rome in 1707 when he was just 22. Its boldness and audacity demand extraordinary virtuosity from the soloists and chorus alike. Whilst the text is sacred, its spirit is operatic with attention-grabbing music full of vivid contrasts, and explosive choruses. Handel’s expert hand balances this force and power with passages of great lyricism and beauty in a work of vivid extremes.

Recorded earlier this month at the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, and presented by Ian Skelly.

Mozart: Mass in C minor, K427
Handel: Dixit dominus

BBC Singers
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Daniel Hyde (conductor)

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