Search - Franz Joseph Haydn, Jan de Gaetani, Benita Valente :: Haydn: Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze

A bizarre hybrid in any language

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 04/11/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Haydn sanctioned versions of his "Seven Last Words of Christ" for string quartet, oratorio, keyboard and orchestra. This recording, apparently here in Spanish, tries to merge two of these. It includes one to the part singers with a string quartet. The results are, by my reckoning, mixed. I did not like this a bit when I owned it (my preference is for oratorio) although I liked some of what I heard.



Why this is listed in Spanish is a question I cannot answer. The version I owned was deliverd in Latin. Benita Valente has been one of my favorite sopranos almost from the day I started collecting classical recorings in the 1970s. She is vividly recorded here, as are the other singers. They are wonderful, also.



For me, the bottom line is this arrangement probably won't satisfy most people. Choral enthusiasts will be put off by having every other movement done by a quartet. String players and orchestral enthusiasts won't be very happy hearing singers break in every other movement to portray Mother Mary's wail.



This performance represents a unique effort in a unique piece of music. It's too bad it doesn't succeed completely. But don't be deterred if you think you might like it because it requires a special person to love this arrangement."

A Bit Unorthodox Production

Cyrus B. Hall | Ewa Beach, HI | 06/06/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Mr. VandeSande said most of what should be said about this production. However, I do find the recitatives between the movements of the string quartet version very interesting. I think these would make a significant contribution for other CD producers of the string quartet version to consider in the future.



Unfortunately I can not declare this album as either "fish or fowl." The ensemble singers and the Juilliard Quartet never come to one mind as to how the material should be presented. The result is a hodgepodge where the singers and the Quartet seem to have only a vague idea of how this work should be interpreted.



I recommend you listen to the work before you decide to buy."