Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem in D Minor, K. 626 ("Lacrimosa")

The Requiem in D minor, K. 626 is one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's most enigmatic and emotionally charged compositions, shrouded in legends and an aura of mystery. It was the last work Mozart undertook before his death on December 5, 1791, leaving the piece unfinished.

A Mysterious Commission
The creation of the Requiem began with an anonymous commission in July 1791. A stranger, later revealed to be a messenger for Count Franz von Walsegg, requested that Mozart compose a Requiem Mass, which the count intended to present as his own in memory of his late wife. The hidden identity of the patron fueled speculation and contributed to the myth that Mozart was writing the piece for his own funeral.

The Composition Process
Despite his failing health, Mozart worked tirelessly on the Requiem. He completed the Introitus and left partial drafts of the Kyrie and other sections before passing away. According to accounts, in his final days, Mozart dictated parts of the Requiem to his student and collaborator Franz Xaver Süssmayr, who eventually completed the work.

Completion by Süssmayr
After Mozart’s death, his widow, Constanze, entrusted Süssmayr with finishing the Requiem. Drawing on Mozart’s sketches and his own compositional style, Süssmayr completed the missing sections, including the Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei. While debates persist about how much of the work is Mozart's and how much is Süssmayr's, the completed version remains the most performed and cherished.

Musical and Emotional Significance
The Requiem is a deeply emotional and solemn work, capturing a sense of transcendence and humanity. From the dramatic Dies Irae to the serene Lacrimosa, the music blends Mozart’s genius with the weight of his imminent death, becoming a universal symbol of life's fragility and mystery.

The Requiem remains one of Mozart’s most iconic compositions and a cornerstone of the classical repertoire, performed worldwide as a tribute to his genius and enduring legacy.