Johann Simon Mayr’s music stands on the cusp between the Classical and Romantic eras. The expressive lyrical qualities in his religious music reflects a career in which he composed nearly 70 operas. The Messa solenne follows the Italian tradition of messa concertata and contains the full ordinary – a rarity for Mayr’s output in this genre. The work’s polyphonic sections made an especially lasting impression on churchgoers of the time, as witnessed by Mayr’s first biographer, Girolamo Calvi, who wrote enthusiastically about this work’s ‘exquisite vocal writing’ and ‘profoundly thrilling’ virtuosity – qualities that have remained hidden for nearly 200 years.

Franz Hauk is the world’s leading expert and exponent of the music of Johann Simon Mayr, and his numerous new editions and recordings of operatic and other vocal works by this composer is internationally recognised as highly significant: ‘Naxos’s project of recording the major works of Simon Mayr is an extremely important event, introducing to most of us a composer of genuine individuality and importance’ (Fanfare on the cantata Arianna in Nasso, 8573065).

The strong and trusted ensemble of soloists for this recording includes soprano Anna Feith, who has been part of several Mayr recordings for Naxos including Franz Hauk’s acclaimed release of the Messa di Gloria (8574208). Renowned tenor Markus Schäfer was praised by the American Record Guide for his role as Gutrumo in Mayr’s Alfredo il grande (866048384) displaying ‘a refined tenor with a variety of colors and dynamics’.