Salieri in Chapel

Antonio Salieri, born in 1825, was court kapellmeister from 1788 to 1824: for a full 36 years, he managed the fates of the Chapel Imperial. His Mass No. 1 in D major ("Hofkapellmeistermesse") was written in 1788, to celebrate the safe return of Emperor Joseph II from the battle field - Austria was at war with the Ottoman Empire between 1787 and 1792. In accordance with the Emperor's tastes in sacred music, Salieri (who was actually much more of an opera writer) kept the music straightforward and free of operatic "flim-flam". To Salieri, it was crucial that the sung words would be understood by the audience. Note that the main theme in the final prayer for peace ("Dona nobis pacem", grant us peace) anticipates the imperial hymn (now the national anthem of Germany) composed by Joseph Haydn in 1797.

The Chapel Imperial (Wiener Hofmusikkapelle), i.e. the Vienna Boys Choir, with members of the men's chorus of the Vienna State Opera, and members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, perform every Sunday in Vienna's Imperial Chapel. Mass starts at 9:15 am; tickets are available online through Culturall.

Mirjam Schmidt is the conductor on this Sunday, Elke Eckerstorfer plays the organ.