Stephen Varcoe Franz Joseph Haydn Richard Hickox - Haydn Paukenmesse etc (15 tracks) +Album Reviews

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03/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the fourth volume in the series of recordings of Haydn masses directed by Richard Hickox whose love and understanding of Haydn make him uniquely suited to this task. The series generated an enthusiastic critical response, particularly from Gramophone which said literally "we defy anyone not to enjoy these discs." As far as I know, Hickox set out to record six major masses which were written by Haydn towards the end of his life; as of today we have four volumes, so hopefully we should have two more some time soon. Each of these volumes constitutes a major musical event. In addition to this one, the volumes already issued are: Theresienmesse, Creation Mass, and Harmonienmesse. Hickox directs a sensitive and responsive period orchestra, well matched by the superb chorus and some of the best soloists on the English baroque scene. The result is some of the best Haydn on disc! NB: one of the "filler" pieces on this disc is Haydn's incidental music to Alfred, Konig der Angelsachen, sung by Argenta. There's a recording of Thomas Arne's Alfred which I would highly recommend if you can find it (try www.berkshirerecoutlet.com, if Amazon doesn't kill me for recommending another vendor), it was produced for BBC Music magazine a couple of years ago, with Padmore and Pierard as Alfred and his wife. That's the opera where "Rule, Britannia" comes from, it's excellent!"

Must buy this wonderful version of haydn's best mass

07/25/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been lucky enough to perform this breath taking mass with an orchestra, and it is truly one of the finest works of choral music ever accomplished. If you like choral music, masses, or Haydn in general, then you will absolutely cherish this wonderful version of Haydn's Mass in the Time of War. Raw emotions flood these songs, and your heart will go out to 18th century Austrians when you hear Haydn's musical expression of Austria's suffering during the Napoleanic wars. Superb interpretation by Hickox."

Exciting, Attention Getting

09/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This most exciting of masses is a jewel of choral music. Hickox and his Collegium create a cathedral of sound from Haydn's music. My enthusiasm continued all through the recording. Without Haydn, the wonderful melding of humor and seriousness, sacred and profane, would not be possible in the music of subsequent composers, and the last Haydn masses cannot be compared to anyone else's. And the "Paukenmesse," a favorite of many singers and listeners, reaches those heights that one would listen for in other great choral works, but is often missing."

Haydn Mass Collection

Brett A. Kniess | Madison, WI | 12/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Prince Nicholas Esterhazy died and an unmusical prince took over, Haydn left a lifetime of work behind him and moved to England. When Prince Anton died years later and Prince Nicholas II ascended, Haydn was once again asked back to the palace in Eisenstadt, and Haydn spent his remaining years in familiar territory. One of his new duties under Prince Nicholas II was to write a mass honoring the religious name day of his wife Princess Maria Hermenegild; that day is known as Mariahimmelfahrt. Known as Haydn's six late masses, they are unparalleled masterpieces of Haydn's late oeuvre and show Haydn's kindred spirit that he and the princess shared; this was a duty Haydn enjoyed. It is a shame Haydn didn't write more; the music is imaginative and inspired, utilizing soloist, chorus, and whatever combination of instrumentalists were available to him at the time.

The Paukenmesse, Kettledrum Mass, or Mass in Time of War is a mature work that nods to the compositional styles of the past, but forages forward. So named because of the large role for timpani, it is also important to note the non-religious themes present, that of a war-time composition, does not go unnoticed. The form of the mass is standard: Kyrie, Gloria (in 3 parts), Credo (in 4 parts), Sanctus, Benedictus, and the Agnus Dei (in 2 parts). Of particular note in the Paukenmesse is the lovely cello/bass soloist duet in the Gloria (Qui tollis peccata mundi section), the soloist ensemble in the Benedictus, the nearly scary marching (with timpani solo) in the opening of the Agnus Dei, which literally explodes into a war-like fanfare at the Cum sancto spiritu section, a truly heraldic moment.

Also featured on this disk are two settings (in C major) of the Te Deum text, a text historically set for celebrating special occasions, usually church services dedicated to royal ascensions or marriages. The first, and lesser known, Te Deum of 1763 features brass, timpani, soloists, and chorus as one continuous whole, but in three sections (fast/slow/fast). The well known Te Deum of 1799, also in three sections, features brass and timpani, but for chorus alone. The second setting shows a more mature Haydn, more pleasant melodies and orchestrations with unbridled energy, the first setting more classically-based.

The filler music is from the incomplete opera, Alfred, King of the Anglo-Saxons. The Guardian Spirit aria features solo soprano, sung by Nancy Argento, a lovely piece with an odd speaking portion. Also included is the Chorus of the Danes, a typical operatic chorus of the classical era.

Chandos by now has probably released the entire collection of Haydn's choral works on CD. Here performed on period instruments, the sound elicited is not full and romantic, but instead, a bit more raw. All excellently played, the tempos are swift, the articulation is hard-cut, and the musicianship is fine. The chorus is also excellent, balanced pretty well over the instruments (although I would prefer a drier hall or closer miking for the chorus to speak a little clearer). This is by and far the best performance of the mass and Te Deum's by an all-adult chorus on record (London/Decca has a release with a boys choir) and the most up-to-date scholarly detailed look at Haydn's music by a period ensemble. All important choral works, well performed, easy to recommend."

Search - Stephen Varcoe, Franz Joseph Haydn, Richard Hickox :: Haydn: Paukenmesse, etc.

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