Regulars of the Wratislavia Cantans festival know that Giovanni Antonini is not only a great "director" who arranges the dramaturgy of the festival programme, but also one of the most respected interpreters of Baroque and Classicism music. The maestro will not disappoint us this time too - as every year, he will lead his orchestra of ancient instruments Il Giardino Armonico. The Fryderyk Award-winning NFM Choir invited Joseph Haydn to perform one of the most popular masses.
While subtitles and nicknames are often given to works by the public or marketing-minded publishers, in the case of the Mass in C majorwe are sure that it was Haydn who wrote "In tempore belli" ("In time of war") on the score in 1796. Austria was surrounded by French troops, Napoleon advanced with nothing but victories along the way, and the Viennese were terrified of invading the city. The general mobilization was announced on a warm August day, when Haydn, despite the growing tension around him, tried to work on a mass commissioned for the name day of his protector's wife, Princess Esterházy. The already aged composer was not ordered to be combat ready, so he was able to finish work on the first of six excellent musical arrangements of the liturgy, each of which was created for the next name day of Maria Józefa. "In tempore belli" is by no means music for joyful celebration, as if everything is fine around it. Haydn ordered that in the Agnus Dei - the part of the mass that includes the request "Give us peace" - ominous timpani beats sounded "like an enemy army coming from afar", and persistent fanfares played on wind instruments announced victory. The audience immediately grasped the musical allusions and called the new composition "Paukenmesse" ("Mass with drums").
However, the work, which instantly became popular, does not leave the listener in fear. Haydn, a man of deep faith, trusted in the meaning of praying for peace. The Mass is the sacrifice of Christ, called the Prince of Peace, and the composer conveyed his hope, among others, to in the very cheerful Gloria and in other parts full of catchy melodies, lively tempos, dramatic twists and almost theatrical arias. Contemporaries criticized all of Haydn's masses, considering them not very pious - they seemed too cheerful. "Paukenmesse" is primarily a reflection on the value and need for peace.
Such an energetic piece is a repertoire in which the musicians of Il Giardino Armonico and their conductor feel best. They are undisputed specialists in the work of Haydn - they take part in the seemingly unreal, yet successfully implemented project Haydn2032, the aim of which is to record all one hundred and seven symphonies of the Viennese classic. Their artistry in interpreting Haydn is confirmed by the prestigious Gramophone Award 2017, awarded "for exemplary performance".
