Celebrating Mozart

We’re halfway through the “Mozart year,” the 250th anniversary of the great composer’s birth. Concerts, tributes and releases of new recordings will continue right up to Dec. 31. One of the best new CDs is Mozart: Rare Choral Works by the top-notch church choir Gloriae Dei Cantores (“Singers to the Glory of God”), directed by Elizabeth C. Patterson and released by Paraclete Press (800-451-5006).

Among Mozart’s masterpieces in many genres, two religious works stand out: the Mass in C Minor (K 427) and the Requiem in D Minor (K 626). Many excellent recordings of these two great compositions exist. Much less well-known are the works on this CD. This choir would have made an important contribution simply by calling these pieces to attention. But more than that, the ensemble, as usual, gives an excellent performance.