Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Although this is Volume Six in the Naxos series of Haydn Masses it is a useful starting point for any would-be collectors who have yet to decide whether to embark on buying the CDs as the two works featured are from opposite ends of the composer's lengthy and fruitful career. The 'Missa Brevis' in F is Haydn's earliest authenticated Mass and was written shortly before his departure from St Stephen's in Vienna, where he had been recruited as a choirboy around 1740. Haydn himself, on rediscovering the work almost 50 years later, said he admired it for "the melody and a certain youthful fire." In contrast, the 'Harmoniemesse', written for the name-day festivities of Prince Nicolaus II's wife in 1802, was to be Haydn's last major composition. Using a full harmonie (wind band), the work's expressive intensity belies the end of its composer's career. Thus if you enjoy the early 'Missa Brevis', here conducted by J Owen Burdick, you could make this your starting point and listen to his other early Masses. If your preference is for the later 'Harmoniemesse', as conducted by Jane Glover, you could work your way back through the other later masses. As we have come to expect from this series, the playing and singing are both first class, the nine soloists admirable, the sound quality excellent, and value for money is guaranteed by the extremely reasonable price from Naxos.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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