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When and Where:
Composer: F. J. Haydn Date: 1767 Conductor: Ryan Heller Length: Approximately 70 min. Performing Forces:
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Program NotesAbout Stabat Mater
The work is divided into 13 sections and is built around six choruses, six arias and one duet. Belonging to Haydn's "Sturm und Drang" period, half of the movements are in a minor mode (consistent with the grieving nature of the text) and Haydn makes great use of word painting. For example,the breaking up with rests of "dum e-mi-sit spiritum" in order to convey the last gasps of the dying Christ. In the final movement the chorus establishes the vision of "Paradise" in a bright G major, a fugue that becomes more and more florid until it encourages a burst of grateful coloratura from the soprano, before all soloists and chorus join in the declamation of "Amen." Grief, despair, pain, fear, and hope are all captured by the masterful Haydn. The orchestra is used in partnership with the voices to bring the vivid text to life. Although the text is sacred, it is the universal themes of the human experience that Haydn illuminates, and that makes the piece accessible and powerful to this day. Chorus Austin will be joined by Soprano Janeene Williams, Mezzo Soprano Keely Rhodes, Tenor Steven Brennfleck, and Bass Austin Siebert under the baton of our Artistic Director, Ryan Heller. 
About the Composer
Haydn (1732 – 1809) was born in Rohrau, Austria. He composed, among others, more than 100 symphonies, 84 string quartets, more than a dozen operas, 10 masses and four large oratorios. His Stabat Mater was praised by his contemporaries, for instance by the then famous composer Hasse. Haydn, who had sent it to Hasse in the hope that “this great and world-celebrated composer” (Haydn’s words) would rectify the weaker parts of the composition, was completely surprised that Hasse “honored the work by inexpressibly praise”. Even during Haydn's life it was published on a large scale and became his most well-known sacred work. |
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