Joseph Haydn, The English Concert and Choir, Felicity Lott, Carolyn Watkinson, Trevor Pinnock, Maldwyn Davies, David Wilson-Johnson - Haydn: Missa in Angustiis "Nelson Mass" - Te Deum / Lott, Watkinson, M. Davies, Wilson-Johnson; Pinnock

Lord Nelson Mass review

Good quality - enjoyed listening to this. Nice lively tempi and clarity February 8, 2007

Brilliant, glorious paean to victory

Composed to celebrate Horatio Nelson's victory over Napoleon's fleet at the Battle of the Nile in 1798, this wonderful Mass is one of Haydn's greatest works -- one which places him squarely beside Mozart and Beethoven as a giant of his time.

I grew up with Bernstein's monumental, superb version of the Nelson Mass, which of course featured the full-scale New York Philharmonic. So it took me a while to adjust to Pinnock's relatively small orchestra using the scale and instruments of the Classical period.

That said, this is an incredibly thrilling disc, with terrific performances from all concerned, and is undoubtedly THE Nelson Mass to acquire and enjoy repeatedly.

Trevor Pinnock surely is one of the greatest living conductors -- everything he touches turns to gold. Even someone like me, who primarily is devoted to the sound world of Richard Strauss, Hector Berlioz and the titanic Wagner, acknowledges his immense talent and only wishes that his range extended beyond the Baroque and Classical into the Romantic and post-Romantic repertoire.

But I won't quibble with what he already has given us -- not a bit!

If you love Haydn or great choral music, buy this CD NOW. August 23, 2003

One of Haydn's best

This is a superb performance of the Nelsonmesse. The soloists are talented and expressive, and the choir sings with passion and precision. One can hear Haydn's understanding of the war in relation to Austria's position, but with his hope for ultimate victory. The "dona nobis pacem" is one of Haydn's best, matched by the "dona nobis pacem" of the Missa in tempore belli. The performance exploits many of the characteristics of Haydn's music that no doubt influenced Beethoven...beginning with the powerful declamatory motive of the Kyrie. December 26, 2001

A beautiful CD.

I like this record very much. I think is a good version of the Nelson Mass with very good msicians, like Trevor Pinnock; for me, one of the bests conductors for barroque music. The singers are perfect, the orchestra too. But, I think that the choir needs more bright because we can't listening to it in some parts of the CD. Moreover, I will put a 10 to this beautiful CD. April 13, 2001

A stunning performance for a spectacular work.

From its omnious introduction to the raw emotional thrill at the openeing of the Gloria one is always amazed at how extraordinary is this piece of music, and how exquisitely powerful is its rendering by Mr. Pinnock. The variety of moods and musical constructs, the emotional power, the refined craft of Haydn, his zest for life, his faith, it is all there. Let us not doubt why this is perhaps the most "famous" of Haydn's mass. To this listener, this mass "in angustiis" together with the Creation and the London Symphonies represent the summits of Haydn's work. A must have recording, or one of the desert island recording that a co-reviewer suggested. To be objective, I was not as impressed with the "te deum", but then again, I cannot think of any opus that would not have suffered from trailing this excellent and excellently performed mass. March 29, 2001

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