Gustavus Choir and Symphony to Present Mozart’s Requiem

With the combined efforts of the Gustavus Choir and the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, the Gustavus Adolphus College Department of Music will present Requiem by W. A. Mozart, Sunday, April 30, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Gregory Aune will conduct this concert in Christ Chapel on the campus. This performance is free and open to the public.

One of Mozart’s most recognized works, especially following the movie Amadeus, the Requiem Mass in D minor, K. 626 was Mozart’s final work. The “Mass for the Dead” was commissioned in the summer of 1791 but left, somewhat appropriately, uncompleted at the time of his death on December 5 of that year. One of his students finished the work, from Mozart’s notes, after his death. The title Requiem translates from Latin as “rest” and follows the general form of the Roman Catholic mass, omitting the Gloria and the Credo. The individual elements of the mass are Requiem, Kyrie, Dies Irae, Offertorium, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei and Communion.

The Gustavus Choir and Symphony Orchestra will perform the complete work in Latin under the direction of Gregory Aune, professor of music at Gustavus. Soloists for the performance include four members of the Gustavus Department of Music: soprano Christina Smith, mezzo soprano Patricia Snapp, tenor Nicholas Wayne and baritone Michael Jorgensen.

Sunday’s performance of Mozart’s Requiem begins at 3:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel and is free and open to the public.