Haydn: String Quartet, Op. 51 'Seven Last Words'

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Using Classical bows, the variety of nuance and colour these players derive from gradations of vibrato and bow pressure alone constitutes a masterclass in quartet playing. Yet it is the sheer... — BBC Music Magazine, June 2014, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 10th Mar 2014
Catalogue No: HMC902162
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Length: 60 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

June 2014

Editor's Choice

Haydn: The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob.XX:2

Work length1:00:06

$9.80

$12.25

$14.25

Introduzione. Maestoso ed adagio

Track length5:18

$1.00

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$1.45

Sonata I. Vater, vergib ihnen. Largo

Track length5:48

$1.00

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Sonata II. Fürwahr, ich sag' es dir. Grave e cantabile

Track length8:21

$1.20

$1.50

$1.75

Sonata III. Frau, hier siehe deinen Sohn. Grave

Track length9:24

$1.20

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$1.75

Sonata IV. Mein Gott, mein Gott, warum hast du mich verlassen? Largo

Track length6:38

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Sonata V. Jesus rufet: Ach, mich dürstet! Adagio

Track length8:46

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Sonata VI. Es ist vollbracht. Lento

Track length7:39

$1.20

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Sonata VII. Vater, in deine Hände empfehle ich meinen Geist. Largo

Track length6:30

$1.00

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Terremoto. Presto e con tutta la forza

Track length1:42

$1.00

$1.25

$1.45

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Favourites, Music for Holy Week

16th April 2014

A brief round-up of recent releases focusing on Passiontide and Easter.

Haydn wrote his 'Seven Last Words' in 1786/87 for Good Friday devotions in Cádiz. Although the custom in Cádiz 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 (Matthew 27:51).

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 in Haydn’s own transcription for string quartet has enjoyed unfailing popularity ever since.

It is entirely 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 seems quickly to have become as popular as it was in France and Britain. There is footage of excerpts from the 'Seven Last Words' on our harmonia mundi YouTube channel recorded at Oratorio de Santa Cueva, Cadiz, the place for which the work was orginally written.

Reviews

June 2014

Using Classical bows, the variety of nuance and colour these players derive from gradations of vibrato and bow pressure alone constitutes a masterclass in quartet playing. Yet it is the sheer intensity and range of expression that transfixes the ear...Truly a revelation.

13th April 2014

This performance combines devotional gravity, a refined sense of drama and beautifully precise and pure playing.

June 2014

The key quality with the Cuarteto Casals is consistent poise - or, rather, poise coupled with a complete understanding of Haydn's textural colouring...The players use a minimal amount of vibrato, reserving it for emotional effect rather than as a standard tool.

May 2014

Anyone who has encountered previous releases from this group will know what to expect: seriously lean textures, an austere avoidance of vibrato leading to a certain wiriness of sound, an extraordinary clarity of detail and attention to nuance, stark contrasts of staccato and legato, an utter lack of sentimentality that at the same time allows a high degree of expressivity.

9th March 2014

The Casals bring a rapt spiritual intensity and high emotional drama to the piece.

Haydn: String Quartet, Op. 51 'Seven Last Words'

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