The last of Schubert’s six masses, this work was completed just months before his death in 1828, at the age of 31. Schubert never heard it performed. Critics have likened it to the great masses of Haydn and Mozart, describing it as beautiful, moving and emotionally powerful, arguably Schubert’s most expressive and fascinating sacred work.

In this mass, Schubert steps right up to the very precipice of the Romantic Movement, pushing Classical composition to its absolute limits. The chromatic fugues and stunning modulations within this Mass foreshadow the rich harmonic system of the mature Romantic style to come. Here Schubert eliminates polyphony, a style that had dominated liturgical composition for more than two centuries, where multiple overlapping vocal parts are used to create a rich textural harmony. Instead, he favours an early Renaissance homophonic style, relying on dynamics, rhythm and formal architecture to create drama.

The choir was joined by soloists Samanta Lestavel (Soprano), Keara Donohoe (Mezzo-Soprano), Joshua Oxley (Tenor) and Tristan Entwistle (Bass), with accompanists Janette Norcott (piano) and Eunbi (Emma) Oh (organ continuo).

Saturday 23 May, Wentworth Falls School of Arts

Sunday 24 May, Hoskins Memorial Uniting Church, Lithgow