Organization

Conductor

Christian Thielemann

Singer

Soprano

Krassimira Stoyanova

Mezzo-soprano

Elīna Garanča

Bass

Franz-Josef Selig

Semperoper Dresden

Others

Saxon State Opera Choir Dresden

Orchestra

Staatskapelle Dresden

German

Missa solemnis in D major, op. 123

Dresden

Germany

Semperoper

Beethoven engraved the words "From the heart - may it go back to the heart" on the manuscript of his "Missa solemnis". It is known that the work was important and dear to Beethoven. Full of inspiration and passion, Beethoven literally struggled with the composition, which he felt was slipping from his grasp. Eventually it grew into a gigantic structure of immense proportions and great technical difficulty, and today it is considered one of Beethoven's most challenging works.

Under the direction of Christian Thielemann, the Staatskapelle Dresden proved extraordinarily competent to master the challenges of the work. Christian Thielemann "conjured up the gigantic cosmos of the 'Missa' with such ease and grace that its secret seemed to be revealed," wrote the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

This is also thanks to the Dresden State Opera Choir, which effortlessly mastered the challenging score. Equally remarkable is the fabulously homogeneous soloist quartet with Krassimira Stoyanova, Elīna Garanča, Michael Schade and Franz-Josef Selig.

The "Missa solemnis" was performed on February 13th and 14th as a traditional memorial concert to commemorate the bombing of Dresden and the many deaths on these days in the last weeks of World War II. The tradition of these concerts, which have been held since 1951, is that the performance is followed by minutes of silence instead of applause.

Missa Solemnis Beethoven

Public

Approved

Photos