WINDHOEK
The Missa Solemnis in C Minor,also known as the Waisenhaus-Messe, is a mass composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the summer of 1786 in Vienna, scored for SATB Choir, Soloists and symphony orchestra.
The work was commissioned by the Jesuit priest Father Ignaz Parhammer, who asked Mozart for music for the consecration of the new Orphanage Church (Waisenhauskirche), hence the nickname Waisenhaus-Messe. However, the first performance took place on 7 December 1768 at the church, with the choir comprising orphans, conducted by Mozart himself at the tender age of 12 years.
The work comprises six parts, namely Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei, with a duration of about 40 minutes.
Namibian audiences will have the opportunity to listen to a performance of this exquisite work, which was lost for many years due to a cataloguing error, and performed by the Windhoek based augmented Maranatha Singers and soloists, accompanied by a string ensemble, all from Namibian soil. The symphony ensemble will comprise seasoned local musicians. The choir singers were collected from the finest singers from existing local choirs to augment the distinguished Maranatha Singers, who is celebrating its ten years of existence this year.
The choir and symphony will be conducted by Konrad Hildesheimer, currently teacher at Waldorf School, distinguished oboist and conductor of calibre. Hildesheimer conducted a number of notable musical projects in Switzerland, his country of origin. Audiences will also hear the Te Deum Laudamus (Mozart), two choir works from Handel’s Messiah and the Tollite Hostias by Camille Saint-Saëns from his Oratorio de Noel, making this concert a memorable way to end the year.
The concert is scheduled to take place on Friday,13 and Saturday, 14 November 2015 at the Christuskirche in Windhoek, starting at 19h30. Tickets are available from Computicket and individual choir members at N$100-00 for adults and N$50-000 for pensioners and children. Contact persons are Evy George at 081 255 4072 and Ivan Scheffers at 081 870 1948.