Haydn: Lord Nelson Mass / Willcocks, King's College Choir

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Magnificent "drew tears to my eyes" Now to pass down the beauty to my Children...."wish me luck and thank you David Wilde Headfort 1968"

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I belong to a choral group which will be performing this piece and the more I listened to this awesome piece the more I enjoy it.

Sherrill

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I really like another reviewer's comment that when it came to his liturgical music, Hayden did not mess around with the almighty, and this work, to my ear, stands up to even the greatest masses of Mozart, approaching (if not quite reaching) the heights of J. S. Bach's great masses.
This is the first recording of the Nelson mass I have audited with a critical ear, and although other reviewers have noted noisome extraneous sounds on the ADD recording, they bother me not.

If I have any reservations about the recording at all, it's the fact that it mixes works by Hayden and Vivaldi, and I prefer CDs with all material from one composer, although the two masses do go well toghether, in spite of the 80 years and the continent of Europe which separate the composers. If you can get this vintage recording at a good discount, snap it up.

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Having been conducted by Sir David Willcocks several times, it is fun to listen to a recording he conducted in the 1960's! The singing, especially the blissful Janet Baker, is truly beautiful.

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The value of the cd depends on what you are expecting. If you expect reasonable good performances of 3 great choral works of the XVIII century with 3 great mainstream (ie not period)orchestras (London Symphony, ASMIF and what was later called English chamber orchestra) together with one of the most famous choirs in the world (King's college), look no further. You have to buy at least 3 CDs to find the mass, the gloria and the anthem. All of them are good, at least.
But if you want to find almost reference performances, I am sorry to tell you they are not here, at least in the three works.
Let's begin with Haydn. The title reason of this CD. What a wonderfull work the Nelson mass is ! Here presented with its original scoring for the first time. I love "HIP" performances so this may sound old fashioned sometimes but is so warm and sounds so beautifull that I am inclined to put it as referece without hesitation. "Period" approaches may be found elsewere but trust me, this excellent version remains at the top. If you want to have a great nelson and a t the same time you want to have those famous works (gloria, Zadok) or if you want to have simply a truly persuasive nelson, look no further.
Alas, Vivaldi and Handel are not so great. Yes, they are quite good performances on the whole, but if you are not so demanding.
The gloria is uneven.Some numbers are crisp, but not others (eg last alto solo, quite boring). The choir I feel does not project their voices in a touching way (as can do a modern baroque choir), sometimes sounds a bit plain, at least for my taste. Janet baker is not michael chance or another alto specialist in baroque singing but her artistry is beyond question: her refined singing has a class of its own.But ...what the hell is doing that awfull vibratoish soprano!!!!! For me, she would never be allowed to sing baroque repertoire !!!! that soprano is the reference of how NOT to sing Baroque (and oboe soloist is frankly old fashioned).
Handel begins with quite good speed, fluid enough. The final is majestic, as it should. But in the transition from the begginning to the end, opulent and powerfull as it shouls, the performance shows a bit four square, a bit slow. Surely can be better sang elsewere.
To sum up, Nelson mass can be readily recommended. For the other works, try before buying if you may live with this 2 old fashioned readings of these 2 beloved choral works.