Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Haydn's 'Missa Sancti Nicolai' is his only early Mass that can be directly connected to the Esterházy court. As the title suggests, it was probably intended for the Feast Of St Nicholas which was also the name day of Prince Nicolaus Esterházy. Composed over 25 years later in 1798, the 'Missa In Angustiis' is the third of Haydn's six late Masses. The somewhat confusing nickname "Nelson Mass" was added several years later, possibly as a result of the famous English Admiral's visit to Eisenstadt in September 1800. The two masses are relatively brief, hence the possibility of fitting both onto one CD and at the usual Naxos budget price this represents true value for money. The "Nikolaimesse" on this CD was recorded in 2002 and the "Nelson" five years after and one can hear some differences (not better and not worse, just different). However Anne Hoyt takes the soprano solos on both and very good she is too. As this is the third in an ongoing series and as all of Haydn's masses in this series are available in a single box we must avoid repeating ourselves too much. Good singing? Yes, from soloists and choir alike. Good accompaniment? Yes. Informative booklet notes? Yes. Value for money? Absolutely. Worth hearing? Definitely. Worth buying? Well, there are many other recordings available and this is as good as any I have heard but I have not heard all of them. But the price and the ready availability from Naxos make this an easy recommendation.

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