Man of the People
Donald Macleod focuses his attention on Haydn’s humanity; a man of exceptional character with a warm, generous personality and a great sense of humour.
Donald Macleod focuses his attention on Joseph Haydn’s humanity; a man of exceptional character with a warm, generous personality, and a great sense of humour.
Joseph Haydn’s prodigious creativity earned him the titles Father of the Symphony and Father of the String Quartet. However, he was also occupied with sacred music throughout his career. This week, as Donald Macleod follows Haydn’s journey from humble choirboy to Europe’s most celebrated composer, he shines the spotlight on music from Haydn’s many settings of the Mass. It's music that is as chock-full of invention and character as any of the instrumental forms he made his own.
A man with his roots firmly in the country, Haydn never allowed his fame to make him feel he was anything but ordinary. Despite working for the grandest noble family in Austria, and having his music performed all across Europe. Today, Donald looks at how Haydn’s fortune might have been very different, had he opted for a career in the Church.
Mass in B flat major ‘Harmoniemesse’: Kyrie and Gloria
Nancy Argenta, soprano
Pamela Helen Stephen, mezzo-soprano
Mark Padmore, tenor
Stephen Varcoe, baritone
Collegium Musicum 90
Richard Hickox, conductor
Symphony No 94 in G major ‘Surprise’: movt II Andante
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Georg Solti, conductor
Mass in B flat major ‘Theresienmesse’: Kyrie and Gloria
Janice Watson, soprano
Pamela Helen Stephen, mezzo-soprano
Mark Padmore, tenor
Stephen Varcoe, baritone
Collegium Musicum 90
Richard Hickox, conductor
String Quartet in B minor Op 64 No 2
The Salomon Quartet
Simon Standage, violin
Micaela Comberti, violin
Trevor Jones, viola
Jennifer Ward Clarke, cello
Mass in B flat major ‘Harmoniemesse’: Sanctus and Benedictus
Nancy Argenta, soprano
Pamela Helen Stephen, mezzo-soprano
Mark Padmore, tenor
Stephen Varcoe, baritone
Collegium Musicum 90
Richard Hickox, conductor
Producer: Eleri Llian Rees for BBC Cymru Wales
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Joseph Haydn
Mass in B flat major, Hob XXII: 14. Harmoniemesse (Kyrie, Gloria)
Singer: Nancy Argenta. Singer: Pamela Helen Stephen. Singer: Mark Padmore. Singer: Stephen Varcoe. Ensemble: Collegium Musicum. Conductor: Richard Hickox.- Chandos Records CHAN 0612.
- Chandos Records.
- 1.
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Joseph Haydn
Symphony No 94 in G major (Surprise): ii. Andante
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Georg Solti.- Decca 475 551-2.
- Decca 475 551-2.
- 6.
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Joseph Haydn
Mass in B flat major, Hob XXII: 12 Theresienmesse (Kyrie, Gloria)
Singer: Janice Watson. Singer: Pamela Helen Stephen. Singer: Mark Padmore. Singer: Stephen Varcoe. Orchestra: Collegium Musicum 90. Conductor: Richard Hickox. -
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Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in B minor Op 64 No 2
Performer: Salomon Quartet. Performer: Simon Standage. Performer: Micaela Comberti. Performer: Trevor Jones. Performer: Jennifer Ward Clarke.- Hyperion CDA67011.
- Hyperion.
- 8.
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Joseph Haydn
Mass in B flat major, Hob XXII: 14 Harmoniemesse (Sanctus, Benedictus)
Singer: Nancy Argenta. Singer: Pamela Helen Stephen. Singer: Mark Padmore. Singer: Stephen Varcoe. Orchestra: Collegium Musicum 90. Conductor: Richard Hickox.- Chandos Records CHAN 0612.
- Chandos Records.
- 8.
Broadcasts
- Mon 8 Apr 2019 12:00BBC Radio 3
- Mon 8 Jun 2020 12:00BBC Radio 3
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