Daines Barrington, in the report which he submitted to London's Royal Society in 1769, describes the circumstances of the composition of Mozart's Grabmusik: "The prince of Salzburg, not crediting that such masterly compositions were really those of a child, shut him up for a week, during which he was not permitted to see any one, and was left only with music paper, and the words of an oratorio. During this short time he composed a very capital oratorio, which was most highly approved of upon being performed."

The performance to which Barrington refers is thought to have taken place in Salzburg Cathedral during HolyWeek 1767. Grabmusik, which can be translated as "Cantata on Christ's Grave", takes the form of a dialogue between a soul which has passed beyond the grave and an angel. When the work was revived in the mid 1770s, Mozart added a final recitative and chorus, but tonight's performance is of the original version, ending with the duet between the Soul and the Angel.

Because it was originally written for performance in church, Grabmusik has no overture. For these performances we are using Haydn's theatrical "Lamentatione" Symphony, which, although it was written a year later than Grabmusik, also depicts musically the drama of the Passion; indeed, the first two movements are founded on quotations from a plainsong setting of the Passion drama dating back to the 13th century.

Recitative (the Soul)
Where am I? What bitter pain! Ah, that place of love, my peace, my comfort, the goal of all my desires, the divine heart of Jesus. It no longer beats and is void of blood; the wound still drips with blood. Accursed rage! What kind of cruel sword could have torn apart this sweetest, dearest heart?

No.1 Aria (the Soul)
Rocks, split asunder, grieve with your wretched crashing! Stars, moon and sun flee! Grieve, nature - I am grieving with you. Roar, thunder, and may lightning and flames engulf whoever, by this infamous deed, wounded his heart.

Recitative (the Angel)
Beloved soul, what are you saying? Lament his wounded heart - I commend your pain. If you want to be angry, be angry. But with whom? Ah, be honest with yourself. If you want to find the murderer, think about your own sins - they directed this spear. Be as angry as you wish, and grieve - but grieve more.

No.2 Aria (the Angel)
Consider this heart and ask who made this crown, who inflicted these wounds? It happened because of me, yet for me. See how it cries tears of blood and water; listen to what the tears are saying, what the last drops are asking - whether you are being honest. Give in, hard heart; dissolve into penitence and pain.

Recitative (the Soul)
Oh heaven, what sad light breaks forth from these words, and increases my torment? Was I then the cruel one who wounded his heart? Is this blood my doing? Oh pain, shatter my oppressed heart!

No.3. Duet
(The Soul)
Jesus, what have I done? Your wounds were inflicted by me, you were crucified and died because of me. My anger searches in my heart for even the last drop of blood. Oh what have I done?

(The Angel)
Look at this heart with repentance. But through these wounds you too have gained salvation and mercy. Love gives to you even the last drop of blood. From now on, this will be my resolution. I will love you, dearest heart, and will never disappoint you. Oh forgive me, divine heart.

(The Angel)
He forgives your pain.