BaL 16.10.21 - Haydn: Mass in Time of War

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30am
Building a Library
Haydn's Mass in Time of War is sometimes known as his Paukenmesse because of his prominent use of timpani for dramatic effect. It's one of the best known of his fourteen mass settings, and has been lucky on record. Richard Wigmore talks to Andrew about the work and about the very different approaches performers have brought to it, and settles on the ultimate recording to buy, download or stream.

Available versions:-

Alan Titus, Michael Devlin, Gwendolyn Killebrew, Patricia Wells, Norman Scribner Choir, New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein (SACD)

Judith Blegen, Brigitte Fassbaender, Claes-Håkon Ahnsjö, Hans Sotin, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Leonard Bernstein

Judith Blegen, Brigitte Fassbaender, Claes-Håkon Ahnsjö, Hans Sotin, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Leonard Bernstein (DVD/Blu-ray)

Richard Lippold, Ann Hoyt, Kirsten Sollek, Daniel Neer, Trinity Choir, Rebel Baroque Orchestra, J. Owen Burdick

Monteverdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner *

Elisabeth Thomann, Gertrude Jahn, Stafford Wing, Eishi Kawamura, Wiener Kammerchor, Wiener KammerOrchester, Hans Gillesberger *

April Cantelo, Robert Tear, Helen Watts, Stephen Cleobury, Barry McDaniel, Choir of St John’s College Cambridge, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, George Guest

Concentus musicus Wien, Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Janice Watson, Susan Gritton, Nancy Argenta, Lorna Anderson, Catherine Denley, Mark Padmore, Stephen Varcoe, Collegium Musicum 90, Richard Hickox

Elsie Morison, Marjorie Thomas,, Peter Witsch, Karl Christian Kohn, Bedrich Janacek, Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rafael Kubelik

Sylvia McNair, Delores Ziegler, Hans Peter Blochwitz, Andreas Schmidt, Berliner Philharmoniker, RIAS-Kammerchor, James Levine

Carolyn Watkinson, Clemens Dillner, Hansjürgen Scholze, Keith Lewis, Margaret Marshall, Robert Holl, Leipzig Radio Choir, Staatskapelle Dresden, Sir Neville Marriner *

Angela-Maria Blasi, Silvia Fichtl, Claes-Håkan Ahnsjö, Martin Gantner, Zubin Mehta (DVD)

Fritz Wunderlich, Salzburger Domchor, Mozarteum-Orchester, Joseph Messner

Ruth Ziesak, Ingeborg Danz, Christoph Prégardien, Michel Brodard, Gächinger Kantorei, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Helmuth Rilling

Rachel Nicholls, Grace Davidson, Anna Harvey, Mark Wilde, Ashley Riches, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & City Of London Choir, Hilary Davan Wetton

Ann Monoyios, Monica Groop, Matthias Ritter, Jonas Will, Jörg Hering, Daniel Rüller, Harry van der Kamp, Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil *

Heather Harper, Pamela Bowden, Alexander Young, John Shirley-Quirk, Choir of King’s College, , Cambridge, Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields & English Chamber Orchestra, Sir David Willcocks


* = download only

[CallMePaul]

I was given a CD of the Gardiner free by Forsyths in Manchester recently when I bought another CD (full price). It is the only Haydn mass disc (Paukenmesse coupled with Heiligmesse) I have and am disappointed to see that it, along with several other well-regarded versions, is now download only.

[Darloboy]

I believe this is the first time that this work has ever been covered by BaL. Pleased to see that the programme will be presented by Richard Wigmore.

[BBMmk2]

I have the set of Haydn masses that Richard Hickox recorded for Chandos. A most wonderful set it is, too. I hope this one wins the accolade!

[BBMmk2]

I was given a CD of the Gardiner free by Forsyths in Manchester recently when I bought another CD (full price). It is the only Haydn mass disc (Paukenmesse coupled with Heiligmesse) I have and am disappointed to see that it, along with several other well-regarded versions, is now download only.

Even at Presto Classical?

[CallMePaul]

Even at Presto Classical?

Sadly, yes: https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...YzMzk0MTI4NC4w

It is, however, still available at a decent price from Amazon:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haydn-Heili...rpt=ABIS_MUSIC
Amazon also has some box sets of Haydn masses including this recording.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... and am disappointed to see that it, along with several other well-regarded versions, is now download only.

That usually means I won't buy it unless I'm really desperate. Scouring the web usually reveals some alternatives.

[BBMmk2]

Sadly, yes: https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...YzMzk0MTI4NC4w

It is, however, still available at a decent price from Amazon:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haydn-Heili...rpt=ABIS_MUSIC
Amazon also has some box sets of Haydn masses including this recording.

All is not lost, then.

[gurnemanz]

I have the Naxos set over 8CDs which I bought a few years ago based on enthusiastic reviews. It has proved a good buy. Only £22 from Amazon or Presto. Conductor and mastermind of the the project, J Owen Burdick, was forced to quit under regrettable circumstances before the end and Jane Glover took over for the last three recordings.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I surprised myself today, discovering the Hickox recording on my shelves. I don’t recall buying, being given it or stealing it.

Must give it a spin.

[CallMePaul]

I have the Naxos set over 8CDs which I bought a few years ago based on enthusiastic reviews. It has proved a good buy. Only £22 from Amazon or Presto. Conductor and mastermind of the the project, J Owen Burdick, was forced to quit under regrettable circumstances before the end and Jane Glover took over for the last three recordings.

It's good to see that there are still some good bargains on Naxos. Single Naxos CDs are now £10 at Presto and on a recent trip to HMV in Leeds I was shocked to see them priced at £10.99! No longer the bargain they were not so long ago!

[visualnickmos]

It's good to see that there are still some good bargains on Naxos. Single Naxos CDs are now £10 at Presto and on a recent trip to HMV in Leeds I was shocked to see them priced at £10.99! No longer the bargain they were not so long ago!

But if you're OK with "previously loved(!)" CDs, they are around on the usual sites. Many of my fav; recordings are in fact, on the Naxos labels.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's good to see that there are still some good bargains on Naxos. Single Naxos CDs are now £10 at Presto and on a recent trip to HMV in Leeds I was shocked to see them priced at £10.99! No longer the bargain they were not so long ago!

Come now. Full priced CDs cost that in 1983. So 38.5 years later, it's hardly unreasonable.

[MickyD]

Come now. Full priced CDs cost that in 1983. So 38.5 years later, it's hardly unreasonable.

I agree. And in fact, I seem to recall the first CDs that I bought were more expensive than 10.99.

[Barbirollians]

But if you're OK with "previously loved(!)" CDs, they are around on the usual sites. Many of my fav; recordings are in fact, on the Naxos labels.

Yes a rather remarkable price lurch from bargain to almost full price.

I don’t have this piece but always thought it rather a shame that the English Concert and Trevor Pinnock only recorded 2 CDs of Haydn’s Masses when both they and the recording they made of the Stabat Mater were so outstanding.