Mozart's personal views on death, expressed in a letter to his father, describe death as a 'true, best friend' and a 'key to our true blessedness,' offering peace and consolation.
Performer Biography
F. Murray Abraham, who appears on this album, won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film 'Amadeus'.
Compositional Technique
For the Requiem, Mozart limited the woodwind section to basset horns and bassoons, creating a darker, somber coloration appropriate for a requiem mass.
Interpretation
This recording of Mozart's Requiem intersperses the music with Gregorian chant, texts, and other Mozart compositions to visualize Mozart's funeral and allow contemplation of human death and hope.
Recording & Production
The recording of this album used five omnidirectional DPA 4006 microphones as the main array, supplemented by 'spot mics' to clarify orchestral detail.
Composition History
Mozart's Requiem was secretly commissioned by Franz de Paula Anton Reichsgraf von Walsegg, who intended to copy it in his own handwriting and pass it off as his own work.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mozart, despite his often poor health, was incredibly creative, composing over 626 works in just 35 years, including sacred works, symphonies, and concertos.
