A Lesser Haydn Mass

 

This one from Gerhard Wilhelm.

Golly, how I wish Sir Neville Marriner had recorded Haydn's Harmoniemesse. I would have even taken George Guest's performance of the composer's Caecilienmesse here instead, Haydn's most bloated Mass setting.

But, here we have Wilhelm's maddeningly slow performance from the mid-60s, with acidic youth trebles and pick-up orchestra; not a favorite of mine to say the least.

On the plus side, Marriner finishes his almost complete survey of Haydn's late 'Great Masses' with his performance of Paukenmesse and the Creation Mass here. All of the soloists are back from his other set (BLOG), as well as the Dresden orchestra and Leipzig chorus.

A review from 2024

Sir Neville Marriner nearly completed a cycle of Haydn’s late masses, possibly the composer’s finest expressions in the genre. Here we have Mass No. 10 & 13 from Marriner, most notably the great Paukenmesse, while the other Masses are on another EMI Gemini volume. As a pairing, Haydn’s massive early Cecilia Mass is added, but led by Gerhard Wilhelm with another orchestra and choir.

The Kettledrum Mass receives its name primarily from its final movements, as well its subtitle ‘Mass in Time of War’. But there are many other moments noteworthy of the work, such as the wonderful cello solo, played here by Clemens Dillmer, and the appreciable tunefulness throughout. The Leipzig Radio Choir really play up the drama and easily sits itself among other more famous recordings of the work.

I am less a fan of the Creation Mass, so named for the quotation from Haydn’s oratorio The Creation. It is a choral heavy work, as opposed to the usual give and take with vocal soloists, and it retains very little of the memorableness exhibited within the Paukenmesse. Still, it is a confoundingly difficult Mass to perform, portrayed adeptly by these forces.

Because EMI didn’t have Marriner complete Haydn’s Masses with the Harmoniemesse, we have the early Missa Cellensis as ‘filler’. This is Haydn’s most bloated Mass setting, coming in here at 74 minutes, and contains bushel baskets filled with fugues and counterpoint. Oddly, EMI reached into their back catalog and dug out Gerhard Wilhelm’s over-long performance (Hickox comes in some 10-minutes quicker on Chandos ). Also odd, since they use a pick up orchestra and boys choir, while Marriner has the great Staatskapelle Dresden and the fabulous Leipzig Rundfunkchor adult chorus. Too bad the tried and true George Guest wasn’t paired, although he too uses a boy choir.

But Marriner’s set of Haydn Masses are among my favorites of those works, so the EMI Gemini series is an easy way to get them all. Recommended, despite my dislike of the addition of Wilhelm’s Missa Cellensis.

Listen on YouTube

Works
Caecilienmesse, Hob.XXII:5 (17.02)
Paukenmesse, Hob.XXII:9 (36.59)
Schopfungsmesse, Hob.XXII:13 (40.04)

Soloists
Barbara Hendricks, soprano
Margaret Marshall, soprano
Elisabeth Speiser, soprano
Helen Watts, alto
Ann Murray, alto
Carolyn Watkinson, alto
Keith Lewis, tenor
Kurt Equiluz, tenor
Hans Peter Blochwitz, tenor
Robert Holl, bass
Matthias Holle, bass
Siegmund Nimsgern, bass

Performers
Hymnus Stuttgart Boy Choir
Werner Keltsch Instrument Ensemble
Gerhard Wilhelm, conductor

Leipzig Radio Choir
Staatskapelle Dresden
Sir Neville Marriner, conductor

Label: EMI / Warner
Year: 1969-89; 2005
Total Timing: 2.36.21

 

 

 

I cherish this recording for Marriner's recordings of Haydn's Masses.

Unfortunately it is saddled with a performance of an early Haydn Mass I don't care for at all.

Come for the Marriner, but leave for the Wilhelm.

Find more Haydn recordings HERE!