Haydn: Nelson Mass, Creation Mass / Rilling, Gachinger

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HAYDN Masses: in d, “Lord Nelson”; 1 in B?, “Creation” 2 • Helmut Rilling, cond; Letizia Scherrer (sop); 1 Roxana Constantinescu (alt); 1,2 Maximilian Schmitt...


HAYDN Masses: in d, “Lord Nelson”; 1 in B?, “Creation” 2 • Helmut Rilling, cond; Letizia Scherrer (sop); 1 Roxana Constantinescu (alt); 1,2 Maximilian Schmitt (ten); 1 Michael Nagy (bs); 1 Donna Brown (sop); 2 Lothar Odinius (ten); 2 Markus Eiche (bs); 2 Bach-Collegium, Stuttgart; 1 Gächinger Kantorei; Oregon Bach Festival O & Ch 2 • HÄNSSLER 98.279 (78:47)


In every way this is a magnificent release, one that offers contrasting sonorities for these glorious scores, two of the half dozen that comprise the crowning masterpieces of Haydn’s last years. Although modern instruments and pitch are used in both performances, that of the “Nelson” Mass suggests period practices in its more transparent, astringent sonorities, purer string tone, and seemingly smaller chorus. If this last view appears equivocal, it is because the more distant perspective of the engineering for the “Nelson” may be contributing to the impression. Despite the fine modern-instrument accounts of these scores recorded for London/Decca by David Willcocks and George Guest, and the equally impressive period-instrument versions by John Eliot Gardiner for Philips, this new release is complementary to them in that it offers readings that differ from both. In general, Rilling favors a narrower range of tempos than does Gardiner and, in faster sections an urgency that Guest and Willcocks do not match. But all of these divergent readings convey the miraculous essence of these Masses: Haydn’s command of making a simple tonic-dominant progression deeply touching; his delight in bold (and typically “surprising”) harmonic turns; and most of all, perhaps, his prevailing daring and originality in bringing the symphonic Mass to a level of perfection previously unmatched. Certainly Rilling’s projection of both scores suits not only their wide-ranging melodic and dramatic richness, but how, more than anything else—in their joyous affirmation of life—they transcend the liturgy that inspired them. A thoroughly recommendable disc.


FANFARE: Mortimer H. Frank


Product Description:

  • Release Date: April 19, 2007


  • UPC: 4010276019602


  • Catalog Number: 98279


  • Label: Haenssler Classic


  • Number of Discs: 1


  • Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn


  • Conductor: Helmuth Rilling


  • Orchestra/Ensemble: Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart, Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra, Stuttgart Bach Collegium


  • Performer: Letizia Scherrer, Lothar Odinius, Markus Eiche, Maximilian Schmitt, Michael Nagy, Roxana Constantinescu