Beethoven composed his Solemn Mass in honor of his dear friend and piano/composition pupil, the Archbishop Rudolph of Austria. It is music of great emotional power that follows the traditional mass format yet is highly personal and direct. Beethoven wrote at the top of the score “From the heart—may it go to the heart” and stated his chief aim as “to awaken and permanently instill religious feelings not only into the singers by also into the listeners.” The exceptional May Festival Chorus, under the direction of Juanjo Mena, will beautifully convey the heartfelt message of this glorious music.