MOZART - REQUIEM
SALIERI - MASS IN D
Bexhill Choral Society
Kenneth Roberts conductor
Kristy Swift soprano
Louisa Hunter-Bradley mezzo
Kristian Thorkildsen tenor
Peter Grevatt bass
Sussex Concert Orchestra
This exciting concert features Mozart’s wonderful and well-known Requiem, left unfinished at his untimely death aged 35 and completed by his student Süssmayr. The Requiem is often considered one of Mozart’s greatest works, but is surrounded by mystery and myth, not least the idea (as in the play and film Amadeus), that his alleged rival Antonio Salieri, a mediocre composer jealous of Mozart’s genius, was somehow responsible for his death. There is no evidence for this, and in this concert we present audiences with an unusual chance to judge Salieri’s abilities for themselves, with a rare performance of his Mass in D. This has been described as a work of impressive beauty and optimism, and has a beautiful melodic quality as well as moments of drama – there is nothing mediocre in this music!