Mozart is well-known for his musical genius, but have you heard any of his compositions written in his childhood? Since the beginning of his musical career, he worked for Salzburg Cathedral through the reign of two Archbishops till his adult age. During this period he wrote a variety of sacred music, including 9 Missae breves for church services. From 2021 onwards, CU Chorus will perform all Missae breves by Mozart in a number of lecture-concerts in the coming five years. Leon Chu, the Music Director of CU Chorus, will introduce each work in Cantonese, and conduct the CU Chorus to perform the work. Audience will experience a journey of Mozart's musical creativity from his early days to his mature years.

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In 1767, Austria was hit by smallpox. Mozart himself was infected and was blind for 9 days. A year after his recovery, he wrote the bright, sunny Missa brevis in G major, K. 49, and the gloomy Missa brevis in D minor, K. 65.  The two Missae breves are settings on the Mass Ordinary but they have contrasting moods. Are they musical experiments by the little musical genius, or contemplations on life after the epidemic? Let's discuss during the concert.

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The first instalment of Mozart's Complete Missae breves lecture-concerts will take place on 28 November 2021 (Sunday), 3:30pm at St Mary's Church.