Regina coeli in C major K.108

In its expression and structure, the “Regina coeli” K.108 (74d) in four movements, composed in Salzburg in May 1771, clearly shows that Neapolitan church music served as Mozart’s model. The two outer movements, in which aprimarily homophonic chorus unfolds against a rich orchestral backdrop, enclose two soprano arias sparkling with coloraturas, of which the first aria has a choral epilogue at the end of each of its two sections. Appositely, thelast movement also picks up the solo-tutti contrast which, in addition, underscores the predominant role of the solo soprano characteristic of the entire composition.