Mozart: Requiem at the Hour of His Death

On the night of December 4th to 5th, 1791, Mozart passed away from "acute miliary fever" in Vienna. On this occasion, the Night Requiem, which concludes with the solemn procession and the ringing of the death bell around the time of the composer's death (December 5, 1791, 0:55 AM), represents a poignant highlight in the concert calendar of St. Stephen's Cathedral. W. A. Mozart's Requiem is among the finest and most moving works that classical music has to offer. The myths surrounding Mozart's last composition contribute to the incredible allure of this masterpiece. The Requiem embodies the strong emotions that people experience in the face of death: fear, anger, despair, sadness, hope, and comfort. During his lifetime and after his death, Mozart was connected to the cathedral in several ways: he married Constanze Weber here, had two of his children baptized in the cathedral, and a few months before his death, he applied for the position of assistant chapel master at St. Stephen's. Mozart's name appears both in the death record and in the so-called Bahrleihbuch (death fee book) of the cathedral. The concert will be performed by the Cantemus Choir Regensburg. Together with the musicians of the Vienna Cathedral Orchestra and renowned soloists, the work will be presented in the atmospheric St. Stephen's Cathedral at midnight. Performers: Cantemus Choir Regensburg, Vienna Cathedral Orchestra, Matthias Schlier, conductor.