The Seven Last Words of Christ refers to the seven short phrases uttered by Jesus on the cross, as gathered from the New Testament. Over the centuries the crucifixion has served as inspiration to countless composers, and settings of these utterances have become something of a subgenre, beginning in the Renaissance with early motets and continuing into our own time. By way of Cesar Franck and Sofia Gubaidulina, composers ranging from Heinrich Schutz to Tristan Murail have contributed versions using various combinations of voice and/or instruments. One of the best known of these settings is probably the one by Joseph Haydn. The one - or rather the four... A rather complicated story begins in 1785, when Haydn received a commission from Cadiz in Spain, at the other end of Europe. He was asked to compose seven slow movements, each ca 10 minutes long, to be played by an orchestra in alternation with the priest expounding on each of the seven words. Relishing this unusual challenge, Haydn accepted and ended up so pleased with the result that he immediately made a version for string quartet as well as authorising another one for keyboard. The work became so popular across Europe that ten years later the music was used one final time, in an oratorio for choir and orchestra. The work is here heard in the version for keyboard, performed by the French pianist Nicolas Stavy. He closes the disc with another unusual work in Haydn's oeuvre, the Andante con variazioni, Hob. XVII/6, which has been described as 'the deepest and most profound set of variations for piano composed between Bach and Beethoven'.

Tracklist:

The 7 Last Words Of Christ, Hob.XX/1c: No. 1, Introduction
The 7 Last Words Of Christ, Hob.XX/1c: No. 2, Sonata I (Father, Forgive Them, For They Know Not What They Do)
The 7 Last Words Of Christ, Hob.XX/1c: No. 3, Sonata II (Truly, I Say To You, Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise)
The 7 Last Words Of Christ, Hob.XX/1c: No. 4, Sonata III (Woman, Here See Your Son)
The 7 Last Words Of Christ, Hob.XX/1c: No. 5, Sonata IV (My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?)
The 7 Last Words Of Christ, Hob.XX/1c: No. 6, Sonata V (Oh, I'm Thirsty)
The 7 Last Words Of Christ, Hob.XX/1c: No. 7, Sonata VI (It Is Accomplished)
The 7 Last Words Of Christ, Hob.XX/1c: No. 8, Sonata VII (Father, Into Thy Hands I Commend My Spirit)
The 7 Last Words Of Christ, Hob.XX/1c: No. 9, The Earthquake
Variations In F Minor, Hob.XVII:6: Theme. Andante
Variations In F Minor, Hob.XVII:6: Var. 1
Variations In F Minor, Hob.XVII:6: Var. 2
Variations In F Minor, Hob.XVII:6: Coda

UPC: 7318599924298
Label: Bis
Release Date: 7.5.19
Format: CD

Haydn / Stavy - Seven Last Words of Christ (CD)