Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis is a unique gem. A work of dramatic external power and incredible inner strength. Full of conviction. Rich in profoundly personal visions of the faith that has remained, carved in stone, in the form of the Latin mass text for centuries.

And yet also rich in moments of doubt about dogmatic religion and the formal institution of the church. In its monumentality and lengthy duration of just under 90 minutes, the Missa Solemnis departs from all liturgical guidelines – even though the work was originally intended for a specific high mass; yet it was not actually performed there in the end.