schubert mass no. 6 in e-flat major d. 950 rutracker

Schubert's Mass No. 6 in E-flat major D. 950: A Musical Enigma

Franz Schubert's Mass No. 6 in E-flat major D. 950 is a work that has long fascinated music lovers and scholars alike. Recorded by Rafael Kubelik with the Bavarian Radio Symphony, this 1968 performance offers a unique perspective on Schubert's final masterpiece. Despite its grandeur and glory, the mass seems to lack a sense of faith or belief, with melodies that fail to resonate lyrically.

The soloists, soprano Gundula Janowitz and alto Grace Hoffman, deliver outstanding performances, but even their voices cannot elevate the music above its pedestrian quality. The Bavarian Radio Symphony provides superb support, yet Schubert's Mass remains an enigma, a work that is both grandiose and emotionally false.

Rafael Kubelik's approach to the music is characteristic of his style: earnest, sincere, and scrupulous. As with his celebrated Mahler cycle from the same period, Kubelik tends to downplay the composer's intellectual irony in favor of heart, soul, and spirit. This results in a performance that is both honest and emotionally flat.

Schubert's final Mass was composed during a tumultuous time in his life. Having fallen out of sympathy with the Roman Church, Schubert imbued the music with an ironic quality that fails to resonate with listeners today. His encounter with mortality had left him disillusioned with the Catholic faith, and this is reflected in the music.

Despite its flaws, Schubert's Mass No. 6 remains a fascinating work, one that continues to intrigue and puzzle listeners. Rafael Kubelik's performance with the Bavarian Radio Symphony offers a unique perspective on this enigmatic masterpiece, and serves as a reminder of the composer's complex and often contradictory nature.

Schubert mass no. 6 in e-flat major d. 950 rutracker