Johann Simon Mayr, born in Upper Bavaria, left a legacy of sixty operas and more than six hundred sacred and chamber music compositions. In the early 18th century, this extremely productive composer was one of the most successful opera composers in Northern Italy and his works were played all over Europe. It is all the more remarkable that he is practically unknown today. The quality of the music cannot be the reason, as is proved by the present recording of the Mass in C minor and the Stabat Mater. Excellent soloists, the Orpheus Vokalensemble and Concerto Köln under the baton of Florian Helgath do justice to the music.
