Horsham concert

Mozart’s Mass in C minor is coming to Horsham with the promise of “one of the composer’s grandest and most powerful sacred pieces.”

Spokeswoman Esther Clark said: “Wolfgang Amadeus composed the Große Messe in C-Moll during 1782-83 after his marriage to Constanze and subsequent move from Salzburg to Vienna. He was 26-27 at the time – a feat hard to imagine.

“The piece was written for soprano, tenor and bass soloists with large choir and orchestra. Mozart wrote the range and coloratura (very ornate figuration) of the soprano to illustrate Constanze’s voice, which was his way of introducing his wife to his father and sister on a visit to Salzburg.

“The first rendition of the Mass, at St Peter’s Abbey, in 1783 included only the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Benedictus. It was only later the other pieces were added of which portions of the Credo and Agnus Dei were finished after Mozart’s very early death in 1791.

“The concert will be brought to you by Christ’s Hospital Choral Society under the baton of James Bartlett, musical director at the school. He is a professional singer as well as a musical director for the National Youth Music Theatre and a course director for the Rodolphus Choral Courses. CH Choral Society are delighted he is now also the MD for them; he brings a wealth of experience, techniques as well as fun to the weekly rehearsals.”

For information on the concert, tickets or on how to join, visit www.CHChoralSoc.org.

“The Choral Society rehearses on Tuesday evenings at the school, and any singers are encouraged to come and have a session to see how they would enjoy joining the choir – especially men!”

Mozart’s Mass in C minor will be on Saturday, November 14 at 7.30pm in the Chapel at Christ’s Hospital School, RH13 0LJ. Tickets are £15 in advance or £20 on the door (under-18s £5) available via the box office (01403 247434) or via choir’s website.

The Christmas concert will be on Saturday, December 19 at the same venue.