Grosse Messe In C-moll ‧ Mass In C Minor, K. 427

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed his Mass in C Minor, K. 427, in 1782 and 1783 during his early years in Vienna. Often called the Great Mass, it was conceived as a votive offering following his marriage to Constanze Weber, intended to be performed upon their first visit to his hometown of Salzburg. The work remains famously incomplete, lacking sections of the Credo and the entirety of the Agnus Dei, which has prompted various scholars and composers to offer completions over the centuries.

This 1966 Deutsche Grammophon release, catalog number 138 124 SLPM, features the esteemed conductor Ferenc Fricsay leading the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir. Fricsay was a central figure for the label during the mid-twentieth century, known for his rigorous yet lyrical approach to the Classical repertoire. The recording is highly regarded by critics for its structural clarity and the vocal contributions of soloists Maria Stader, Hertha Töpper, Ernst Haefliger, and Ivan Sardi, reflecting the high production standards of Deutsche Grammophon's golden era.