Mozart Requiem and Ave Verum Corpus

Join us in Vienna for a Private Viewing
of these priceless original manuscripts
and see the original register of Mozart’s wedding,
death and funeral at St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
From 21 to 23 October 2025.

See the Original Manuscript for Mozart Requiem
and Ave Verum Corpus

This is a journey back to the last days of Mozart and the deceit, lies and forgery
which followed his death in December 1791.

In his dying days, the great composer was still hard at work writing, of all things, a Requiem; a mass for the dead. On this curated trip by the Original Manuscript Society, the stuff of legend comes to life as we visit Stuppach Castle, home of the Count who commissioned the work; we visit Mozart’s home in Vienna; we learn about Franz Süssmayr, who wrote a completion of the masterpiece Mozart could not finish, and – most compellingly – we see the original manuscript in a Private Viewing few have ever experienced.

Join us for an unforgettable journey to see and experience one of the greatest treasures created by mankind.

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 From 21 - 23 October 2025, a maximum of 30 people from around the world will travel to Vienna for our own
Private Viewing of the original manuscripts of the Mozart Requiem and the original manuscript of
“Ave Verum Corpus”, which he composed in 1791.
We shall also have a Private Viewing of the original register showing his marriage, death and funeral at St. Stephen’s Cathedral before we enjoy a full scale performance with the Cathedral Orchestra, Choir and 4 soloists.

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Accompanying us for the whole of the Event will be:

Marina Mahler, granddaughter of the composer Gustav Mahler, and Founder of Mahler Foundation.
Morten Solvik, musicologist and co-Founder of the Gustav Mahler Festival in Steinbach am Attersee and Vice President of Mahler Foundation.
Simon Keefe, music Professor and worldwide Mozart specialist and author of an acclaimed book on Mozart Requiem.
David Nelson is our Tour Director and has arranged Vienna musical tours for over 800 people from all over the world.
Mark Strachan, Founder of Original Manuscript Society.

Please see more about the Team on the ABOUT US page of this website.

To join us for this Event, please email mark@originalmanuscriptsociety.com

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 The original manuscript of the Mozart Requiem at
the Austrian National Library in Vienna is in two volumes:

 1. The first volume is the “completed score” that Constanze Mozart delivered to Count Walsegg in 1792. This is the score completed by Mozart’s pupil, Süssmayr, and found quite by chance in 1838 in a drawer in a gardener’s cottage at Walsegg’s Castle, Schloss Stuppach. We shall see Mozart’s own personal composition for the Introit and Kyrie. The rest of the manuscript is entirely in Süssmayr’s own hand and he copied out Mozart’s work to deceive Count Walsegg into believing it was all by Mozart.
In addition to completing Mozart’s work, Süssmayr himself composed in their entirety:
Lacryimosa (after bar 8), Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei. 

2. The second volume is the incomplete draft score written in Mozart’s own hand and those who attempted the completion in advance of Süssmayr assuming the task. This includes fragments of Dies Irae, Tuba Mirum, Rex Tremendae, Recordare, Confutatis and Lacrymosa, Domine Jesu and Hostias. 

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Here is the current schedule of our trip:

Tuesday 21 October 2025

14:00 - Start of Event and Welcome from the Team.
14:30 - Lecture “History of the composition of the Requiem” by Simon Keefe.
16:00 - Visit to the Mozarthaus Museum.
19:00 - Dinner with Morten Solvik, Marina Mahler, Simon Keefe as Guests of Honour.

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Wednesday 22 October 2025

09:00 - Leave Vienna for Schloss Stuppach.
10:00 - Arrive at Schloss Stuppach.
10:15 - Welcome from Reinhard and Rita Zellinger, owners of the Castle
10:30 - Lecture “Count Walsegg and the Requiem” by Reinhard Zellinger
11:30 - Tour of Schloss Stuppach.
12:30 - Lecture “Mozart Requiem - Facts, Fictions and Legends” by Simon Keefe.
13:30 - Lunch at Schloss Stuppach.
14:30 - Transport to St. Stephan Church, Baden, where AVE VERUM CORPUS was first performed.
See where Mozart composed it whilst in Baden in 1791.
17:30 - Back in Vienna and free evening.

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Thursday 23 October 2025
09:30 - Arrive at National Library in Vienna.
10:00 - PRIVATE VIEWING OF “THE REQUIEM” AND “AVE VERUM CORPUS” MANUSCRIPTS.
12:30 - Visit the original location of Süssmayr’s house at Seilerstätte 17, Vienna.
13:00 - Lunch at location of Süssmayr’s home, which is now demolished.
13:30 - Lecture “Süssmayr -The Forgotten Partner in the Requiem” by Morten Solvik.
15:00 - Visit to graveyard of Mozart and Süssmayr (both at St. Marx Cemetery).
17:00 - PRIVATE VIEWING OF ORIGINAL REGISTERS OF MOZART’S WEDDING,
DEATH AND FUNERAL AT ST. STEPHEN’S CATHEDRAL
18:00 - Dinner in Vienna
19:30 - Invitation to Drinks in Roof Attic of St. Stephen’s Cathedral before the Concert
20:30 - Full scale performance of Mozart/Süssmayr Requiem at St. Stephen’s Cathedral
with Cathedral Orchestra and Choir plus 4 soloists
22:00 - Group picture and close of Event

Please note that this schedule is subject to change.


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Booking is now open…….no need to pay now.


There are 30 places available for this three-night event.
The cost for the Event is £4,975 per person (no accommodation included).

There is no VAT payable in addition as this is an event organised outside the UK.

We have partnered with “In Mozart’s Footsteps” to provide a further trip to Salzburg from 24 to 28 October 2025 for those who would like to extend their stay in Austria. This will be led by Dr. David Nelson.
You can book for both trips or just one. The “In Mozart’s Footsteps” webpage link is here.

No need to pay now - just register your interest in joining us by sending an email.
Please let us now if you are interested in both parts of the trip, or just one.
mark@originalmanuscriptsociety.com

We shall ask for a 50% deposit for the Vienna trip when we have 21 people keen to join us.
We have 10 people as at 09:00 UK time on 2 April 2025.
We are unable to accept bookings for less than the entire three days.
Please see the FAQ’s below.

A donation will be made to assist with the preservation of these documents for future generations.

To reserve your place, please email mark@originalmanuscriptsociety.com

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FAQ’s

  • The cost is all inclusive and includes:

    The Event starts at 14:00 on 21 October 2025 at in Vienna. All transportation from the start of the Event to the end of the Event on Thursday 23 October 2025.

    Accommodation is not included to allow you to stay in an hotel or Airbnb of your choice or with friends.

    All food and drink on the trip (a generous amount of wine and alcoholic/soft drinks will be served at lunch and dinner – any drinks required other than at meal times are at your own expense).

    Lectures.

    The presence of Simon Keefe, Morten Solvik, Marina Mahler and Mark Strachan throughout.

    AVE VERUM CORPUS at Baden.

    All guides and tickets to venues whilst in Vienna.

    The Private Viewing of the original manuscripts.

    The Concert of MOZART REQUIEM in Vienna.

  • No need to pay now. When we reach 21 people who would like to come, we shall ask for a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total payment to be paid by electronic transfer to our UK bank account to confirm your place(s). Please email mark@originalmanuscriptsociety.com for the bank details for UK and International payments.

    The total deposit payment per person is £2,487.50

    There is no VAT to pay as this event is outside the UK.

    We shall then ask for the 50% balance of the same amount by 22:00 UK time on Sunday 20 April 2025. We shall send you a reminder by email on Wednesday 2 April 2025. Please note that the 50% deposit is non-refundable and if we do not receive the balance by 22:00 UK time on Sunday 20 April 2025, we shall assume that you no longer wish to come. In this case, we shall cancel your booking and you will lose your full deposit. Full terms and conditions are available in these FAQ’s.

  • Accommodation is not included.

    We have made this decision for several reasons:

    Firstly, we would be required to book hotel rooms well in advance and because we will not know how many people are attending until near the Event, we would not wish to let anyone down.

    Secondly, the hotels would require upfront payment whilst not knowing how many Guests will attend. This increases the risk for OMS Events Limited.

    Thirdly, experience tells us that some Guests wish to make their own arrangements for accommodation and this means they ask for a price for the Event less accommodation. Added to the number of single/twin/double rooms requested, this all adds to the complexity of making sure you enjoy the event to the full.

    Finally, you may have friends or colleagues with whom you might like to stay either in Vienna or nearby.

    In conclusion, it seems to us that it makes sense all round for you to make your own accommodation decisions.

  • Your travel to and from the Event is not included.

    Please make your own way the start of the Event at 14:00 on 21 October 2025 and back home again after the Event has ended.

    We shall give you detailed instructions how to get to the Meeting Point in Vienna by car/train/taxi etc.

  • Yes. You will see the menus well in advance to make your choices.

  • We are visiting several old properties and they may not have step-free access. We shall visit each location before 20 April 2025 to create a risk assessment for each location and will report to each Guest(s) by email. At the time of writing, we cannot be sure that any or all locations will have step-free access.

  • We shall let you know this as soon as we can. We in discussions with several wonderful and exceptional locations.

    This is likely to be a pianist and members of a small choir, from which the soloists will be chosen.

  • The Original Manuscript Society (OMS) is operated and run by OMS Events Limited, a UK limited company number 15645061 and VAT Number 479 5753 27.

    The OMS will put on this Event as advertised on the website www.originalmanuscriptsociety.com from time to time. It mentions on the website that the schedule may change. 

    Payment. Once 21 people have registered interest to join the Event, OMS requires 50% of the total charge as advertised on the website www.originalmanuscriptsociety.com as a non-refundable deposit to enable all the arrangements for the Event to be made. An invoice will be sent. This deposit is non-refundable. Payment of the balance is due by 22:00 UK time on 20 April 2025 otherwise we shall assume Guest(s) no longer wish to come and their place(s) will be cancelled. PLEASE NOTE THAT NO REFUND OF THE DEPOSIT OR ANY VAT WILL BE MADE. Guest(s) will be reminded by email on Wednesday 2 April 2025. All bookings will be for the full three nights, covering four separate days, from the START of the Event at 14:00 local time on Tuesday 21 October 2025 to the END of the Event at 11:30 local time on Friday 24 October 2025. We cannot accept bookings for less than the full three-day Event.

    Refund Policy: All refunds requested by you are subject to a deduction of any financial charges levied on us by the banking system, so the percentages below will be reduced by these amounts. We can refund 100% of the fee up to 22 May 2025. We can refund 75% of the fee up to 21 June 2025. We can refund 50% of the fee up to 21 July 2025. Thereafter, no refund will be made.

    Cancellation by OMS. If OMS cancels the entire Event of its own volition, a full refund of all monies will be made. PLEASE NOTE: there will be no refund due from cancellation at any time due to sickness, disease, significant transportation issues, closure of any visitor attractions, civil unrest, bad weather or any last minute changes to the schedule or any event outside the control of OMS. Guests are encouraged to take out their own travel insurance cover. Please take the time to digest the implication of this clause.

    UK Sales Tax.
    There is no VAT to pay as this event is outside the UK.

    What is included. The cost includes:

    ·      All transportation from the START of the Event at 14:00 on Tuesday 21 October 2025 to the END of the Event on Thursday 23 October 2025.

    ·      All food and drink on the trip (a generous amount of alcohol/soft drinks will be served at the lunch and dinner restaurants – any drinks required other than at meal times are at the guest’s own expense). Restaurant menus will be circulated in advance and dietary requirements will be catered for. We shall not accept any liability of the effect of any food allergies being contravened. It is the responsibility of the Guest(s) to check that all food is suitable to be consumed.

    ·     All Lectures.

    ·      The presence of Simon Keefe, Morten Solvik, Marina Mahler and Mark Strachan throughout.

    ·      AVE VERUM CORPUS at Baden.

    ·      All guides and tickets to venues whilst in Vienna.

    ·      The Private Viewing of the original manuscripts.

    ·      Performance of the MOZART/SÜSSMAYR REQUIEM in Vienna

    Transport. Guest(s) are provided with luxury transport from the start of the Event at 14:00 on Tuesday 21 October 2025 to the end of the Event on Thursday 23 October 2025. If Guest(s) decide to take alternative transport at any time during the Event, this must be paid for separately and we shall not change or amend the schedule to take into account any delays etc experienced by this alternative transport. This is important. We cannot delay the Event for everyone else if you experience delays by choosing separate transportation. You will be referred to this clause if this occurs. No refund will be made for the use of alternative transportation nor for any part of the Event missed by the choice of alternative transport. In particular, if the choice of separate transport results in missing the private viewing of the original manuscripts, no refund of any sort can be made.

    Drink. Ample alcoholic and soft drinks at meal times are included in the cost of the Event. Any drinks outside the serving of meals should be purchased by the Guest(s) separately. No alcohol will be served at breakfast and Guest(s) must accept what is offered for them at all restaurants/hotels.

    Behaviour. OMS expects our valued Guests to treat each other, OMS staff and anyone they meet during the Event, with respect and kindness. Any behaviour by a Guest(s) which the OMS staff in their absolute discretion regard as unacceptable may result in that Guest(s) being asked to leave the Event with immediate effect. Please take note of this clause.

    Step-free access. We cannot guarantee that any of the venues we visit have step-free access. We shall perform reasonable endeavours to check each venue before the balance of the cost is due on 20 April 2025.

    Dated 10 March 2025.