Mozart: The Great Mass · A Ballet by Uwe Scholz Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
Mass in C minor, K427/K417a, 'Great Mass' (1782/83) Kiyoko Kimura · Christoph Bohm · Oksana Kulchytska Leipzig Ballet EuroArts : 2054608 Two totally different experiences of Mozart's Mass in C minor persuade me that it is indeed "Great" and more so than the more famous Requiem, which carries the baggage of mystery in its genesis and the composer's death before its completion. At Lucerne we experienced it last summer in a liturgical context, in the large, ornate Jesuit Church, completely packed for High Mass with Mozart's C minor Mass given in fine style, Barbara Locher memorable in the famously demanding Et incarnatus est. It was long, as - so differently - is this two hour ballet of Uwe Scholz (1958-2004), given as a memorial to a great choreographer by Leipzig forces. It was played without an interval (to complaints by some ballet reviewers). Certainly the DVD provides ample opportunities to take one or two breaks. Approached from a musical standpoint, this is a fine account of the Mass itself, punctuated by brilliantly conceived interludes of significant contemporary music, notably of Kurtag & Jahn, and too Bach, for which the white of Scholz's Mozart gives way to darker hues. We found it wholly engrossing and indeed moving, and the filming is respectful of the music and the primacy of the ballet on this occasion. we do see the choir and orchestra from time to time, and the excellent solo singers (Eunyee You here for that Et incarnatus est). Lighting is also excellent and contributes to the special feeling; often the figures are shown very small, so the Blu-ray version is recommended. A great DVD, recommended to our readers with strongest enthusiasm. Peter Grahame Woolf |