Rene Jacobs in Haydn

 

Performing the saddest of prayers.

I came to Jacobs' performance of Haydn's Stabat Mater due to an electric recording of his in Haydn's The Seasons. Granted, the two works couldn't be more different, but I was enthusiastic to give it a try.

This recording is also notable for its expanded wind section, the only recording available of the version as far as I am aware. This aspect is most effective during the bass vocalist's solos, otherwise, subtle wind doublings are par for the course throughout.

Some of the burden of success is on Haydn here. The choruses are the best parts in my opinion, but his Stabat Mater is given over mostly to elegant vocal solos, so I am left a little wanting.

This performance isn't bad, but I am certainly not bowled over. Of course, I have to overcome my aversion to the HIP approach in Haydn, yet I have done it before. The soloists are very good, the chorus acquits itself quite nicely, yet the orchestra has that HIP metallic sounding. Perhaps expecting the boundless energy of The Seasons is laughable in a Stabat Mater setting, but such was my expectation.

A review from 2024

Haydn’s Stabat Mater is a work which bandies between sorrowful devotion and gentrified Classical Era propriety. Chorus doesn’t feature too heavily in this 60-minute work, where the vocal soloists have the largest roles. When the forces come together in the middle of the work, it is really a spectacular moment.

This version introduces an expanded wind section with percussion, a fact most notable in the bass solos, which rage forth dramatically. Otherwise, there are some doublings here and there that add a bit of colour, but in the end doesn’t make this version more effective compared to the string orchestra/oboe version.

As to this recording, René Jacobs doesn’t drive this music terribly forward, there are swifter recordings out there; but as always, Jacobs appreciably focuses on the drama, here full of sorrow. I am not terribly fond of HIP orchestras, and so too this isn’t my preference. However, I was gobsmacked by Jacobs’ recording of Haydn’s The Seasons regardless of that fact, but wasn’t quite as entranced here.

The solo vocalists are larger voiced than I expected, but most were suave and effective. I have liked Christian Immler’s sense of dramatics before, and he gives us the goods here as well. I also liked Christensen and Davislim, yet only Kristina Hammarström seemed too heavily voiced for the proceedings.

For period instruments, I think I prefer Harnoncourt on Teldec, who comes in a little quicker than Jacobs, although of course the wind version is only to be found here on Pentatone currently. Among modern instrument orchestras, I really like the solo voices on Decca under Laszlo Heltay, although it lengthens to 68 minutes, and Michel Corboz acquits well on Erato too.

Either way, the Pentatone sonics are excellent, as are the notes from Jacobs.

Works
Stabat Mater, Hob. XXa:1

Soloists
Birgitte Christensen, soprano
Kristina Hammarström, alto
Steve Davislim, tenor
Christian Immler, bass

Performers
Zurich Singing Academy
Basel Chamber Orchestra
René Jacobs, conductor

Label: Pentatone
Year: 2023
Total Timing: 61.29

Haydn's Stabat Mater is an uneven work, but it is geared for devotion and beauty more than thrills. I love the choruses, plus the expanded wind roles in the fun bass solos, but these are far and few between across the runtime.

Still, I have enjoyed other recordings both slower and faster than Jacobs'. This one sits in the middle somewhere.

Find more Haydn recordings HERE!