A monumental work, the culmination of a lifetime of music and a true “Everest” for its performers.

Beethoven himself repeatedly declared the Missa Solemnis to be his “best work, his greatest work”. And indeed, it is one of the most fascinating pages in the history of music. Of vast proportions, of unheard-of complexity and extremely demanding for the choirs, vocal and instrumental soloists (the solo violin part in the Benedictus is akin to a real concerto), this monumental work has intimidated many performers (Furtwängler, for example, studied it relentlessly throughout his life without ever conducting it!) Composed between 1818 and 1823, it was partially premiered on May 7, 1824 during the concert where the musician first performed his Ninth Symphony. It is hard to imagine today the strength required to conduct such a double act in one evening.

Nicole Chevalier, soprano
Varduhi Abrahamyan, mezzo
Mathias Vidal, ténor
Christof Fischesser, basse
Jérémie Rhorer, direction
Le Cercle de l’Harmonie
Choeur du Conservatoire Darius Milhaud – Jérôme Cottenceau, chef de choeur

Ludwig van Beethoven, Missa solemnis, op. 123