Boy soprano sings circles around Mozart’s rendition of Psalm 117

There’s something so fitting about a young vocal prodigy singing the works of Mozart. After all, Mozart himself was a musical prodigy who had composed more than 150 symphonies, chamber works, and operas before he was even 18 years old. Here we have 12-year-old Cai Thomas, a phenomenal boy soprano from Wales, who is building an impressive resume for one so young. 

One of the most impressive parts of Thomas’ performance is the composure he keeps. It’s bound to be intimidating for a preteen to stand before a full orchestra and choir as the soloist. Still, Cai’s performance is flawless as he shows a fantastic grasp of vibrato. One of the most impressive lines he sings is the melismatic “Amen” towards the end.

This piece, “Laudate Dominum” is just one movement from Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore, or Solemn Evening of the Confessor. It was composed for liturgical use at the Salzburg Cathedral for a feast day, although it is uncertain which saint it was meant to honor. It was the last piece Mozart ever composed for the Cathedral, as he soon after moved to Vienna.  

The entire work draws from the Book of Psalms, with “Laudate Dominum” sourcing its lyrics from Psalm 117. The other five movements were drawn from Psalms 110-113, with the final movement utilizing the Magnificat. Its Latin lyrics translates to:

Praise the Lord, all nations;
Praise Him, all people.
For He has bestowed
His mercy upon us,
And the truth of the Lord endures forever.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and forever,
and for generations of generations.
Amen.

Cai Thomas is a budding musician whose exceptional voice has garnered him a YouTube following of 35,000. Click here for more from Cai Thomas.