In the year commemorating the bicentenary of Anton Bruckner's birth, Irmandade da Lapa presents, in partnership with ESMAE, the monumental Mass in E-minor by A. Bruckner and works by V.Williams, Jaako Mäntyjärvi and F. Mendelssohn.
The Mass in E minor was initially written in 1864 and was revised in 1882. It brings us a very interesting mix of styles because, on the one hand, through the instrumental accompaniment carried out solely by wind instruments, it denotes a clear relationship with the traditional Austrian Harmoniemusik, which was characterized by direct and light musical gestures, intended to be played on festive occasions, outdoors; on the other hand, it resorts in long stretches to the seriousness and sobriety of the a cappella choir, that is, without accompaniment or soloists, thus approaching the Cecilian Reform (which aimed to return sacred music to the principles that governed it in the 16th century), in great vogue at the time, with impressive complexity when it comes to Counterpoint, the great passion of this composer, who liked to proudly introduce himself as 'Anton Bruckner, Professor of Counterpoint'.