Summertown Choral Society's Summer concert included two popular masses, as well as Handel and Verdi choruses. The Krönungsmesse (Coronation Mass in C Major, KV 317), was so called because it was first performed either for Francis I of Austria or Leopold II in Prague, is one of the most popular of Mozart's 17 Mass settings, composed in 1779. It is famous for the Agnus Dei, one of Mozart's most sublime sacred soprano solos. Schubert's Mass in G was written in a week at the age of 18. His genius for melody, through simplicity, is evident and the Mass has become one of his most popular sacred works.
