Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem in D minor, K. 626

9 June 2026

Background

Commissioned by Count Franz von Walsegg to commemorate the first anniversary of his wife's death in February 1791.
Composed in Vienna in late 1791, but left unfinished on his death on 5 December of the same year.
Only the Introit finished; Joseph Eybler attempted a completion, but Franz Xaver Süssmayr finished it. At least 19 conjectural completions have been made.

Recordings

Requiem

Sandrine Piau (soprano), Sara Mingardo (contralto), Werner Güra (tenor), Christopher Purves (bass-baritone)

Insula Orchestra, Accentus Chamber Choir

Cond. Laurence Equilbey · Naive

🏆 BBC Music Magazine (2014): Choral & Song Choice

Requiem

Christine Schäfer (soprano), Bernarda Fink (mezzo), Kurt Streit (tenor), Gerald Finley (baritone)

Concertus Musicus Wien, Arnold Schoenberg Chor

Cond. Nikolaus Harnoncourt · Deutsche Harmonia Mundi

Requiem (Süssmayr/Dutron 2016 Completion)

Sophie Karthauser (soprano), Marie-Claude Chappuis (mezzo), Maximilian Schmitt (tenor), Johannes Weisser (baritone)

RIAS Kammerchor, Freiburger Barockorchester

Cond. René Jacobs · Harmonia Mundi

🏆 Presto Recordings of the Year (2017): Finalist
🏆 BBC Music Magazine (2018): Choral & Song Choice

Requiem & Mass in C Minor

Ying Fang (soprano), Emily D'Angelo (mezzo-soprano), Stanislas de Barbeyrac (tenor), Michael Volle (bass)

Chamber Orchestra of Europe, RIAS Kammerchor

Cond. Yannick Nézet-Séguin · Deutsche Grammophon

Requiem

Chadi Lazreq (treble), Ying Fang (soprano), Beth Taylor (mezzo), Laurence Kilsby (tenor), Alex Rosen (bass)

Pygmalion

Cond. Raphaël Pichon · Harmonia Mundi

🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2024)
🏆 Presto Recordings of the Year (2024): Finalist
🏆 Gramophone Awards (2025): Shortlist Choral

Requiem

Margaret Price (soprano), Trudeliese Schmidt (mezzo-soprano), Francisco Araiza (tenor), Theo Adam (bass)

Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Staatskapelle Dresden

Cond. Peter Schreier · Philips

🏆 Gramophone Awards (1984): Winner Choral

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Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.

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