Concert

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis

Sunday 12 March 2023, 5:00 pm

Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford

Please note: this concert has taken place.

In March 2020, with just hours to go before our performance of the Missa Solemnis, the Covid pandemic forced us to cancel the concert.  Since then, the choir has been determined to perform Beethoven’s late masterpiece, one of the towering achievements of Western sacred music.

Originally conceived as OBC’s contribution towards the celebrations of Beethoven’s 250^th birthday, this titanic setting of the Mass will be performed by the Choir three years later than planned.

Beethoven wrestled with the Missa Solemnis for several years, and produced a work which is is by turns solemn, heaven-storming, and turbulent, but also deeply contemplative. Beethoven wrote on his score “From the heart – may it go to the heart!”, and successive generations can testify that his wish has succeeded. The Oxford Bach Choir – which will be performing the Mass for the first time in over two decades – will be joined by the London Mozart Players and soloists Claire Rutter (soprano), Susanna Spicer (mezzo), Justin Lavender (tenor) and Mark Stone (bass).

Any performance of this work still demands enormous physical and emotional input, and we are delighted that we will be joined by the orchestra that was originally to have performed with the Oxford Bach Choir.