Towards the end of his life, Beethoven’s spiritual quest found its way into a time-honoured form of church music – completely transformed into his own language.
Thu. 25.3.2027
19:30, Beethovenhalle, Great Hall
Missa solemnis
- Orchestra, Vocal
Contributors
- Beethoven Orchester Bonn
- WDR Rundfunkchor Köln
- Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
- Peter Dijkstra choir master
- Chen Reiss soprano
- Marie Seidler mezzo soprano
- Attilio Glaser tenor
- Michael Nagy baritone
- Dirk Kaftan conductor
Programme
Ludwig van Beethoven
Missa solemnis in D Major, op. 123
Hosted by
The concert at at glance
What can I expect?
What does it sound like?
Description
Beethoven regarded his Missa solemnis as his greatest work, even ahead of the Ninth Symphony. It is demanding to perform, challenging to listen to, and a deeply moving profession of faith. In it, the composer explores his search for the divine and his engagement with a Church that often felt alien to him. At the same time, the Mass is a work of enduring power: a quiet yet poignant plea for peace in a world that is repeatedly shaken.
26 March 2027 marks the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s death and also falls on Good Friday. How can we do justice to both? This year, the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn is moving its traditional Passion Concert to Maundy Thursday, 25 March. Commemorating Beethoven calls for the right work: hardly anything could be more fitting than his own »High Mass« – yet liturgically, this would be out of place on Good Friday.
So, on this evening, Beethoven’s Missa solemnis, op. 123, will be performed by an international ensemble of soloists and two of Germany’s finest choirs, the WDR and BR Radio Choirs.
Tickets via www.beethoven-orchester.de
In cooperation with WDR
