Program
Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809)
Oratorio Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze | The Seven Last Words of our Saviour on the Cross, Hob.XX:2 (1796)
musicAeterna soloists, choir and orchestra
Conductor Dmitry Sinkovsky
Introduzione. Adagio
The first word: Luke 23:34
Vater, vergib ihnen, denn sie wissen nicht, was sie tun | Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Largo
The second word: Luke 23:43
Fürwahr, ich sag es dir: Heute wirst du bei mir im Paradiese sein | Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise. Grave e cantabile
The third word: John 19:26-27
Frau, hier siehe deinen Sohn, und du, siehe deine Mutter! | Woman, behold your son! Behold your Mother! Grave
The fourth word: Psalm 22:1 and Matthew 27:46
Mein Gott, mein Gott, warum hast du micht verlassen | My God! My God! Why have You forsaken Me? Largo
Introduzione II
The fifth word: John 19:28
Jesus rufet: Ach, mich dürstet! | I am thirsty. Adagio
The sixth word: John 19:30
Es ist Vollbracht | It is finished. Lento
The seventh word: Luke 23:46
Vater, in deine Hände empfehle ich meinen Geist | Father! Into Your hands I commit My spirit. Largo
Il Terremoto | Earthquake. Presto e con tutta la forza
Details
One of the most unusual works of the Austrian classic Joseph Haydn exists in several equal versions — as an orchestral suite, a quartet cycle, a series of sonatas for piano and, finally, as a full-scale oratorio, which was created last.
Haydn considered The Seven Words one of his best music pieces. Its structure is not connected with any classicist form: seven slow paced “illustrations” to seven prayer states associated with the words of the crucified Christ are preceded by a slow introduction and end with the only movement at a fast pace — the Earthquake described in the Gospel according to Matthew. Each part is a condensed evocation of one affect and, at the same time, a musical expression of one of the key theological problems. The beauty and eloquence of music, which are not a goal in itself, apparently were the qualities the Catholic composer particularly appreciated. And it just so happened that the oratorio The Seven Last Words of our Saviour on the Cross was the last work that Haydn conducted publicly.