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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem in D minor, K. 626, is one of his most famous and enigmatic compositions. Here are some interesting facts about this remarkable work:

1. Mozart's final composition: The Requiem is Mozart's last composition before his untimely death in 1791 at the age of 35. It's often referred to as the "Unfinished Requiem" because Mozart was unable to complete it before his death.

2. Mysterious commission: Mozart received a commission to write the Requiem from a mysterious stranger who turned out to be Count Franz von Walsegg. The Count intended to pass it off as his own composition in memory of his deceased wife.

3. Mozart's health: Mozart was already in declining health when he received the commission for the Requiem. He worked on it while suffering from various illnesses, which added to the sense of foreboding that permeates the piece.

4. Composition under duress: Mozart's deteriorating health, coupled with the financial pressure to complete the Requiem, created a sense of urgency that is reflected in the work's intensity and complexity.

5. The fragmentary nature of the Requiem: Mozart managed to complete only a few sections of the Requiem before his death, including the Introitus, Kyrie, and part of the Dies Irae. The rest of the composition was left unfinished.

6. Mozart's handwriting and the "Eyewitness Account": Mozart's illness and weakened state are evident in the hasty, erratic handwriting in the score. A famous story is that of Mozart dictating parts of the Requiem to his pupil and friend, Franz Süssmayr, while on his deathbed.

7. Süssmayr's completion: After Mozart's death, Franz Süssmayr, a composer and close friend, was tasked with completing the Requiem. While Süssmayr's completion is often criticized for not matching Mozart's genius, it is responsible for much of what we hear in the modern version.

8. Many versions of the Requiem: Over the years, there have been numerous versions and arrangements of the Requiem, and it remains a subject of debate among musicologists and performers. Different conductors and musicologists have attempted to complete or revise the work, often resulting in varying interpretations.

9. The Requiem's enduring popularity: Despite its mysterious and incomplete nature, Mozart's Requiem is widely regarded as one of the most significant and moving compositions in the choral and classical music repertoire. It has been performed and recorded countless times and is still widely loved today.

10. Influence on popular culture: The Requiem has made its way into various forms of popular culture, from movies to rock music. It was featured prominently in the 1984 movie "Amadeus," which contributed to its enduring fame.

Mozart's Requiem continues to captivate audiences and inspire musicians, and its enigmatic history only adds to its mystique.