Last night Harold and I went to see the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra perform Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. It was amazing, we had fabulous seats in the orchestra section, thanks to French's being a major sponsor of the Symphony.
If you have not the privileged of hearing the NMSO you have to add it to your list of things to do. They are wonderful. It was also nice to know a few people in the choral section.
For those like me who had never heard of this production before let me enlighten you to what I learned. Missa Solemnis is a mass that Beethoven started writting in 1819 for his friend Archduke Rudolph of Austria who was going to become the Archbishop of Olmutwz on March 9, 1820. Unfortunately Beethoven was not finished with the piece and would not finish the piece until 1823. Beethoven considered this to be his greatest work.
For me it was dramatic piece with the tempo going from deep and slow to almost a racing gaunt. I would highly recommend that if you get the chance to see this performance to do so. For those interested in the Symphony their season will finish up at the end of May with their performance at the BioPark. Check out their website www.nmso.org for ticket information.