Madly Miraculous Haydn

Three musical masterpieces will be presented by the CBS Choir & Orchestra in the Catholic Pro-Cathedral, Manchester Street. on Sunday, September 15, at 2 pm. Admission will be by programme $30 and $25, available at the door, with payment by cash or eftpos.

The concert begins with cries of anguish from the CBS Choir: Insanae et Vanae Curae. The madness to which they have been driven erupts in a motet, originally a storm chorus written for an early oratorio. At its Viennese performance, Haydn first met Mozart, and the soloists became the original Count and Susanna two years later in The Marriage of Figaro.

Haydn’s Symphony 96 was known as his Miracle Symphony for many years, after its 1791 premiere as the first of his famous twelve London Symphonies. That was a sensational occasion. A large audience had gathered to see and hear the famous composer in person in the resonant acoustic of the Hanover Square Concert Hall, constructed for his own concerts by J.S. Bach’s even more famous London son, Johann Christian. This was the city’s main concert hall for over a century: 500 seats in a spacious chamber with a high curved ceiling, from which hung some large candle-bearing chandeliers. After one of these crashed to the ground, this symphony was nicknamed the “Miracle” because the audience had left their seats to congratulate the composer.
Such was the legend for many years, but later research identifies Symphony 102, as the occasion.

The major work on the programme is Haydn’s Theresienmesse, fourth of the six great Masses he wrote annually at the end of his life, incorporating all his creative genius. It was written for the Princess Esterhazy, whose palace in Eisenstadt is only a few minutes’ walk from the Bergkirche (Church on the Hill), where it was first performed. A feature of this mass setting is the inclusion of clarinets and the prominence of the soloists, who have virtually equal importance throughout. The Theresienmesse has not been as often performed as its tunefulness and colourful strength deserve. During their Millennium world tour (1999-2000) the CBS Choir and Orchestra performed parts on the site of its premiere in Eisenstadt, and presented the complete Mass in St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna during the High Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany.

For this concert, soloists will be Sarah-Jane Rennie, Louisa Pilkington, Wally Enright and Ken Joblin. The orchestra will be led by Natalia M. Lomeiko, and the musical director will be Don Whelan.

The cathedral musicians maintain an extensive repertoire of masses and motets, sung on Sunday at the 11 a.m. Solemn Choral Mass. New members are welcome to the 7.30 pm Wednesday evening rehearsal at the CBS Music Centre. Sight reading ability is expected. Those interested are invited to contact the CBS Musical Director, Don Whelan, phone 358-5873.2104

The CBS musical year will conclude with their annual Messiah at 1.30 pm on Sunday, 1 December, and a performance of Bruckner’s Mass in D Minor at the Christmas Midnight Mass.