3MBS Fine Music Melbourne celebrates the 250th birthday of one of the world’s most recognised and influential composers, Ludwig van Beethoven, by bringing some of Australia’s best fine music performers for an all-day event.

Beethoven wrote this work in 1807, at the request of Prince Nicolas Estherhazy, patron for many years of Joseph Haydn, who still remained alive but no longer composed. The work was performed, on the 13th September 1807, at the castle of Eisenstadt, not far from Vienna. The composer, aged 37 and in full maturity, conducted his own work. It appears the prince did not appreciate the work, judging it probably too “modern”. He is supposed to have said: “But, Beethoven, what have you done here?”. Nevertheless Beethoven was very satisfied, asserting “to have treated the text like it not previously been done”. When the work was edited, in November 1812, at Breitkopf & Härtel (of Leipzig), it was dedicated to Prince Kinsky. Lvbeethoven.com. 2020. Beethoven’s Music For Choir: The Mass In C… Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Website -. [online] Available at: <http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Cedes/TheCds_Voice_Choir_Mass.html> [Accessed 21 June 2020].