Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Joseph Haydn wrote his 'Seven Last Words' in 1786 or 1787 for the Good Friday services in Cádiz. Although the custom was to perform an oratorio, Haydn's brief was in fact to write seven movements for orchestra alone, each creating a mood inspired by one of the sayings attributed to the dying Christ. He chose to frame them with a further slow movement called "Introduzione" and a concluding Presto entitled "Il Terremoto", intended to depict the earthquake that occurred after Christ's death. This purely instrumental 'oratorio' consisting of seven contemplative slow movements was by no means an easy task but the outcome was a work of sublime nobility which has enjoyed unfailing popularity ever since. It is appropriate that this recording of Haydn's 'Seven Last Words Of Christ' should be performed by the Cuarteto Casals, for the work represents one of the few surviving traces of the composer's flourishing relationship with Spain, where his music became as popular as it was in France and Britain. The Cuarteto Casals is Abel Tomàs Realp (1st violin), Vera Martínez Mehner (2nd violin), Jonathan Brown (viola) and Arnau Tomàs Realp (cello). Personally I prefer my oratorios to be vocal but I understand that this one was written for a specific purpose. The musicianship is excellent and the overarching impression is typical of Haydn at his best: he knows that Good Friday is a serious occasion but he is also fully aware that Easter Sunday is on its way and cannot help himself from smiling through his tears.

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