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FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN (1732-1809) Nelson Mass, Ave Regina, Missa Brevis  Collegium Musicum 90 Richard Hickox CHANDOS  Early Music CHAN 0640

 


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Of Haydn's last great masses, the 'Nelson' one is probably the most famous. This is in no small measure due to Sir David Willcock's outstanding Decca recording from way back in 1962 that led the way in scoring such works for chamber size forces. Of course, we have come a long way since then and this Hickox recording has been eagerly awaited since his current cycle of these choral works has been of consistently high standard throughout.

The delightful sound of period instruments lends an added urgency to this 'Missa in Anguustis'; indeed the scoring is subtly palpable and highly tense. The opening 'Kyrie' is a case in point with whirling kettledrums and acidic strings making for a splendid cocktail. Hickox's urgent tempo is very much in the mould of the Wilcox version. Susan Gritton's lovely contributions in the 'Gloria' are an added bonus and the theatricality of that movement finds Hickox tickled pink throughout. All the other soloists are impeccable although Varcoe is occasionally too studied. The ominous sounds of the Credo are beautifully portrayed whilst the usual martial overtones in the Agnus Dei are remarkably underlined.

All in all, this recording of the Nelson Mass can claim to be the most satisfying at the moment. A delightful bonus is to be found in the rare 'Ave Regina', not a masterpiece but pleasant nonetheless. The same can be said for the early Missa Brevis, short but quite profound in its choral handling. Excellent Chandos recording and the usual striking presentation should win this disc many admirers and is self-recommending for those who have taken the dip into Richard Hickox's Haydn mass series.

Reviewer

Gerald Fenech

Performance:

Sound:

and another view from Peter Grahame Woolf

Composed rapidly during summer 1798 after completing The Creation, Haydn made a virtue of necessity (dismissal of Prince Esterhazy's windband to reduce expenditure) with his theatrical and war-like scoring of the new mass for strings with only 3 trumpets, timpani and organ, which he played himself. (The Nelson association is spurious.) Its opening is arresting and the tension and exceptional beauty of this wonderful music never flags. In earlier decades within my lifetime the Haydns masses were neglected and undervalued in England as being insufficiently solemn.

This recording in Blackheath Halls has all the immediacy and tension of a live performance and rates amongst my most exciting listening of the year. The excellent soloists are well balanced with chorus and the early music orchestra Collegium Musicum 90, whose instruments are detailed in the exemplary notes. The youthful Ave Regina has an Italianate style for the soprano soloist, Susan Gritton. The Missa Brevis, composed when he was about 17, was rediscovered in his old age by Haydn himself, who took pleasure in its "certain youthful fire" with florid parts for two solo sopranos.

An enormously satisfying CD, not to be missed.

Reviewer

Peter Grahame Woolf

Reviewer

Gerald Fenech

Performance:

Sound:

Peter Grahame Woolf



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