Mozart's Requiem performed at Central Congregational Church

 A chorus comprised of members of the greater Chelmsford community under the direction of Frances Burmeister presents Requiem by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on Sunday, September 11 at 8:00 P.M. at Central Congregational Church UCC in Chelmsford.  This concert is in memory of those who died ten years ago in the 9-11 attack.

Featured soloists are Pamela Murray, soprano; Mindy Hinkel, mezzo soprano; Neal Ferreira, tenor; and Glenn Billingsley, baritone.  Frederick A. MacArthur will accompany on the organ.

The chorus is comprised of members of the Chelmsford community and beyond as far as Townsend and Wenham.

Mozart was commissioned to write a Requiem (musical setting of the mass for the dead) by the Count von Walsegg - Stuppach for his 20 year old wife. A number of eerie legends have emerged - Mozart, knowing that he was dying, wrote it for himself, his archrival Salieri completed the work, and so on.  Actually, Mozart received the commission 6 months before he became terminally ill, and his student Sussmeyer completed the work from sketches and earlier conversations.  Nevertheless, the Requiem is one his greatest works.

“Mozart had a great affinity for the voice -- he had better have!” said Burmeister.  His wife, Constanza, was a singer.  She was no nagging critic, but she did look over his work.  All his vocal lines fit the voice beautifully, and each phrase is complete unto itself.  Fugues were out of style in the 1780’s and 90’s, but since ‘Stanzi liked them, he wrote them.  The fugues in the Requiem are incredibly complex and powerful.”

A voluntary freewill offering will be collected. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Chelmsford Military Community Covenant Task Force and the Music Fund of Central Congregational Church.