MOZART Requiem "Dies Irae"

Voices of Ascension Chorus and Orchestra
Dennis Keene, Conductor and Artistic Director

Recorded in concert on November 15, 2018, at The Church of the Ascension
The singers in this performance are represented by the
American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.

Guest curator, Bob Lee

The Dies Irae from Mozart’s Requiem is another super favorite I also first heard in my late teens. While I have yet to hear less than a first-rate performance from any of the Voices of Ascension recordings and videos I have encountered, this video has for me a special energy that is definitely worth re-hearing. My favorite moment in this piece is at 1:55 timing mark. Mozart switches those downward string arpeggios from minor to major for just one measure. To me it signifies that not only will our souls be judged, but also that the judgment will last for ETERNITY. That brief key change opens the doors to infinity, far more terrifying than mere punishment. To bolster my case, Mozart makes almost exactly the same gesture − and it's every bit as electrifying − in the penultimate scene of Don Giovanni as the Don is dragged down to Hell.

– Bob Lee

Text and translation.