Scottish, Catholic composer Sir James MacMillan considers the faith lives of three very different composers.

Over the centuries, composers have created musical masterpieces that many listeners have come to regard as spiritual touchstones. For example, Mozart’s Requiem, Mahler’s 2nd Symphony, Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. But what did these composers actually believe about God, faith, judgement, an afterlife and redemption? And do we need to share these beliefs in any way, in order to have a spiritual experience as listeners to their music? Answers to these questions are complex, fascinating and challenging.

Brought up in a Catholic household, feisty and free-thinking Mozart was sacked by a Catholic archbishop, then (like his contemporary William Blake) went on to embrace Freemasonry. He continued to attend church throughout his short life but lived under the rule of Emperor Joseph II who banned a great deal of church music in Austria at the time.

Mozart’s operas are full of characters with ambiguous morals and the plots can be seen as suffused with myths of Eden and Christian promises of forgiveness and redemption. Maybe listeners turn to Mozart for spiritual consolation not because (as depicted in Amadeus) he was the voice of God, but because he is supremely human.

James MacMillan talks with Mozart scholars Professor Cliff Eisen from King's College London, Professor Nicholas Till from Sussex University and Dr George Corbett from the School of Divinity at St Andrews University.

Produced by Rosie Boulton
A Must Try Softer production for BBC Radio 4

Mozart music played:

Clarinet Quintet in A K.581
Sabine Meyer, Bruno Schneider, Wiener Streichsextett
Label: Warner Classics

'Gente, gente, all’armi, all’armi' from The Marriage of Figaro
Performers: John Eliot Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
CD Title: Le Nozze Di Figaro
Label: Archiv

'Don Giovanni, a cenar teco' from Don Giovanni
Performers: George Solti, London Philharmonic Orchestra
CD title: Don Giovanni
Label: Decca

Ave Verum Corpus
Performers: Vienna Boys Choir
CD title: Requiem; Ave Verum; Bruckner Motetten
Label: Capriccio

Exsultate Jubilate
Performers: Emma Kirkby, The Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood
CD title: Mozart: Exsultate Jubilate; Motets
Label: Oiseau Lyre

'Kyrie' from Requiem in D minor, K.626
The Academy of Ancient Music, Choir of Westminster Cathedral, Christopher Hogwood
Label: Decca Show less