Vesperae Solennes De Confessore K.339 / Exsultate Jubilate K.165 / Kyrie K.341 / Ave Verum Corpus K.618

Released in 1972 on the Philips label, this recording features Sir Colin Davis conducting the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a selection of Mozart's sacred choral works. The album captures a period in the 1970s when Davis and the LSO were highly regarded for their refined, clear-eyed interpretations of the Classical repertoire, moving away from the more opulent, heavy romanticism that had characterized earlier mid-century Mozart recordings. The collection spans different phases of Mozart's career, from the youthful virtuosity of Exsultate, jubilate to the profound, distilled late mastery of the Ave verum corpus.

The production design reflects the aesthetic of Philips' 'Festivo' and 'Sequenza' era, emphasizing a clean, scholarly presentation intended to place the listener's focus squarely on the compositional integrity and the technical polish of the performance. By bringing together these specific liturgical works, the release was designed to showcase the breadth of Mozart's vocal writing, balancing public-facing concert works with deeply introspective sacred music. It was well-received by critics of the time for its disciplined phrasing and the natural, resonant acoustic quality typical of the label's high-fidelity standards in the 1970s.