Beethoven: Missa Solemnis in D Major, Op. 123

When Nikolaus Harnoncourt retired from the stage in December last year, it was his expressed wish to release the broadcast recording of his last project, Beethoven s monumental Missa solemnis as his personal legacy. The Missa solemnis concerts at the Styriarte Festival Graz and the Salzburg Festival in summer 2015 were his last public performances. This recording of Beethoven s late masterpiece was made from material captured at the Graz concerts and rehearsals. As a result of his life-long research on Beethoven, he conducted the work for the first time with the Concentus Musicus Wien on period instruments. The Concentus is joined by the Vienna based Arnold Schoenberg Choir featuring Laura Aikin (soprano), Bernarda Fink (alto), Johannes Chum (tenor) and Ruben Drole (bass).

Nikolaus Harnoncourt was born in Berlin in 1929 and grew up in Graz, Austria. He has performed and recorded Haydn, Beethoven, Schumann, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Brahms together with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. He has received numerous international awards for his work. There are nearly 500 recordings in his discography, which have been awarded all the major international Classical prizes, including a Grammy Award® in 2002 for his recording of the St. Matthew Passion. In December 2015, the legendary maestro announced his retirement from performing and recording and passed away on March 5, 2016.

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