Hear two of the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s most iconic works performed by candlelight in the spectacular setting of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Two concerts

• Sat 01 Apr 02:00 PM 
• Sat 01 Apr 06:00 PM 

The acclaimed Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra present Mozart’s dramatic and enigmatic Requiem in D minor. Unfinished at the time of the composer’s death, and shrouded in mystery since it was first commissioned by an anonymous messenger dressed in grey, the Requiem is one of the world’s most famous compositions. From the Requiem’s dark and ponderous opening bars, to the scintilating Dies Irae, the dramatic choral fugues, the famous Tuba Mirum and the emotionally gripping Confutatis and Lacrymosa movements, the work takes the listener on an emotional journey like few others in Western music.

Also being performed is the famous Symphony No. 25 in G minor, its  first movement made famous  since being used as the opening music in Miloš Forman’s  award-winning biographical film Amadeus. Composed when Mozart was just 17 years old, it is regarded by many as one of his finest early works. The symphony is written in a “Sturm und Drang” style (German for “Storm and Stress”) – a style characterized by emotional extremes and sudden changes in tempo and dynamics. The opening movement begins with a particularly dramatic repeated syncopated pattern in the violins and violas. This rhythm returns again in the final movement.

Ludwig van Beethoven knew the symphony well, copying 29 bars from the score in one of his sketchbooks. It is thought that the opening theme of the Symphony No. 25’s final movement may have inspired the third movement of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.

RMP Artistic Director Andrew Wailes leads the RMP Choir and Orchestra, joined by four outstanding soloists in two spectacular performances in the stunning setting of St Paul’s Cathedral.

MOZART: Symphony No. 25 in G minor, K. 183/173dB

MOZART: Requiem in D minor, K. 626 and Ave Verum Corpus

Andrew Wailes, conductor 
Soloists, TBA
Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir
Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra