The singers will be very disappointed if they don't reach people on an emotional level.
There are some very high tenor parts in really exposed places. It calls for heroic tenors.
He was trying to bring to life Russian culture.
I want people to see this kind of music not as entertainment, but as part of our daily lives.
It's really a landmark piece. It's compelling. It's descriptive. As a piece of music, it has something to say and does it with a lot of energy and inner logic.
This is a very fine reconstruction of Mozart. My hope is that the mass will not be just a concert, but will feel spiritual. That it will make a statement about the human condition.