Haydn's late masses are amongst my favourite works, not least because of the joyfulness of much of the music. This morning's BBC Building A Library was on Haydn's Missa in Tempore Belli (Paukenmesse). Up to now this has ranked slightly below my top 3 (Nelson Mass, Harmoniemesse and Theresienmesse) but the review, as so often with Building A Library, brought out aspects that I hadn't noticed before. So, I shall enjoy listening to some of the recommendations. Richard Wigmore's top choice was Harnoncourt
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/haydn-edition-vol-5-masses-stabat-mater-seven-last-words/328858411
followed closely (and in complete large scale contrast) by Bernstein
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/haydn-mass-in-c-missa-in-tempore-belli/1452351737
He also liked Hickox
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/haydn-paukenmesse-te-deum-alfred-konig-der-angelsachsen/264493407
and had a soft spot for George Guest at St John's College Cambridge
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/haydn-4-masses/1452195256
Afterwards the programme moved on to this lovely French folk song Il est quelqu'un sur terre arranged by Britten and sung by Philippe Jarrousky (countertenor) with Thibaut Garcia on guitar
and then an aria from L'isle desert by Franz Ignaz Beck, based on the same Metastasio libretto as Haydn's L'isola disabitata which was discussed in the Primephonic forum. (I can't find the Beck opera on Apple)
Thanks Hugh. I missed Building a Library this morning, and it’s a very long time since I’ve heard Paukenmasse. I’ll enjoy listening to those recordings tomorrow, in reverse order!
based on the same Metastasio libretto as Haydn's L'isola disabitata which was discussed in the Primephonic forum
Oh yes, the Desert Island Opera! I’m smiling as I remember the lovely conversation we had about that opera with Thomas B and Maja. I continue to wonder how we might let more members of the old Primephonic community know about this forum.
