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Tomorrow (Saturday) Haverhill Choral Society celebrates its 150th anniversary with a grand performance of Mozart’s Requiem in the Old Independent Church at 7.30pm.

The Requiem was the last piece composed by Mozart and has become one of his most treasured works.

Loved for the drama and contrast within it, the Requiem is also renowned for the drama and mystery surrounding it.

Count Franz von Walsegg commissioned Mozart to write it in July 1791. An amateur chamber musician, Walsegg hoped to pass it off as his own.

For this reason the commission was kept secret but Mozart died part way through writing it. This left his widow, Constanze, with a dilemma - in order to receive the final payment, performing and publishing royalties for this piece it needed to be complete. Here the mystery begins.

Constanze then approached other composers and asked them to help her complete the score. Composers were chosen for their skill.

Some had worked with Mozart, including Franz Xaver Süssmayr, who apparently helped him to work from his death bed. Using complete sections, drafts and notes left by Mozart (or so Constanze claimed) the piece was finished and sent out, complete with a forged signature of the deceased.

Once it was accepted as Mozart’s music and Constanze had successfully received all payments the truth began to emerge. In the 19th century the original manuscripts were discovered but with no real explanatory notes from subsequent composers.

As it is a celebrated masterpiece Haverhill Choral Society is looking forward to Saturday’s performance and hopes plenty of people will come along to enjoy the performance. Tickets at £8 include a buffet afterwards and are available through choir members or on the door.

Displays in Haverhill Arts Centre and the town library support the choral society's anniversary. They tell 150 years of local history, famous performers or directors who have been part of the choir and much more.