Bal 21.03.15 - Haydn: Missa in Angustiis (Nelson Mass)

[Nick Armstrong]

.... of his final three i would plump for the sound quality of JEG over the other two but would not mind all three ... if he had spent so much time in blind listening he should have been given a three hour solo spot, i am certain he would have us all at rapt attention to every bar, mark, and tempi &c ....

Yes... and I agree certain moments in the JEG sounded thrilling (there's a great moment in the Gloria when the sopranos leap up a perfect fourth, high and modulating as they go, on the '...ca...' of 'glorificamus' - the JEG version is hair-raisingly brilliant at that point, the sound penetrating, and the singers hitting the top note ideally... I might download that movement for that bit alone).

But I take JS's point that - as so often - the sound of JEG's recordings often (imho) gets tiring through a whole work, and that the Rilling (which sounded a bit dowdy in short-extract comparison) might well win out on that front, sound-wise.

(Didn't like Rilling's soprano much, though....)

[BBMmk2]

How did Hickox fair?

[visualnickmos]

How did Hickox fair?

Not given the merest mention - surprisingly, as it's b*****y excellent!

[ardcarp]

I can't agree that the Nelson Mass "knocks spots off the other Haydn Masses"

Each has his favourite, I guess! What makes The Nelson special for me is its glorious construction within a relatively concise framework. The Harmoniemesse, whilst of course displaying all Haydn's mastery, is just a bit long-winded [no pun intended]. Paukenmesse is a great one, I agree...Papa Haydn on top form...but apart from anything else, the Nelson's unusually elaborate soprano solo makes it at once 'different'... and special.

[BBMmk2]

Not given the merest mention - surprisingly, as it's b*****y excellent!

Thanks Vis! I think so too. The whole box set of them is! :)

[underthecountertenor]

Returning briefly to the format of this BaL: I did find AMcG's interventions more than usually irritating and unhelpful. The most egregious was after a wonderful excerpt from the Pinnock recording, featuring Carolyn Watkinson singing gloriously in the Agnus Dei, when McG decided it was in some way relevant or helpful to tell us that he had difficulties with singers pronouncing 'agnus' with a hard G. JS's response was remarkably diplomatic in the circumstances. I'd have been tempted to throw the autograph score at him.