In 1791 the 35-year-old Mozart was in a difficult place. He was short on cash, he was ill, and he feared that he was dying. In early July “an unknown, gray stranger” approached Mozart with a commission to write a Requiem (a mass for the dead). Mozart threw himself into the project, but on December 5th he died without having finished the work. With audio samples and commentary, this class will explore Mozart’s Requiem and discover why it remains one of the most extraordinary and beloved works of all time. There is also an opportunity to hear live performances of Mozart’s Requiem, conducted by Thomas O'Connor, on April 27 and 28, 2024 at the Lensic (tickets purchased separately through Santa Fe Pro Musica).