Written to honor Rudolph, the Archduke of Austria, who was Beethoven’s foremost patron and was to be invested as Archbishop in March 1820, the mass is eclipsed by the better-known Ninth Symphony, which premiered around the same time (and which will be performed on a UMS concert by the Budapest Festival Orchestra a month earlier). Missa Solemnis has been performed only four times in all of UMS’s history: at three May Festivals (with the Chicago Symphony in 1927 and the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1947 and 1955), and most recently by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1977. The UMS Choral Union and Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Scott Hanoian, bring this monumental work to UMS audiences for the first time in 40 years. Soloists to be announced.

With this concert, we’re also celebrating another milestone: The 200th anniversary of the University of Michigan, which was founded in 1817. What better way to do that than with Missa Solemnis, a grand work that will be performed by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and the UMS Choral Union, which since 1879 has brought the university community and the Ann Arbor community together.

Please note: Erin Wall will be replacing the originally announced Miah Persson as soprano soloist for this performance. Ms. Persson had to cancel due to illness.

Also, please note that this performance will have no late seating and no intermission.