CMSC to present Haydn’s Greatest masterworks
View(s):The Chamber Music Society of Colombo, in association with the Goethe Institute and sponsored by Fairway Holdings will present one of Haydn’s greatest masterworks, ‘The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour On the Cross’ (German: Die sieben Letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze), Op. 51, Hob. III:50-56.
The concert goes on the boards at the Goethe-Institute Hall at Gregory’s Road, on Monday, February 29 at 7:30 p.m. The featured principal string players of the CMSC will be, Lakshman Joseph de Saram, violin I, Cynthia Fernando, violin II, Othman H Majid, viola and Saranga A. Cooray, violincello.
Haydn originally composed the Seven Words for a large string orchestra in 1786, for a Good Friday commission by the Oratorio de la Santa Cueva (Holy Cave Oratory) in Cadiz, Spain. It was headed “seven sonatas with an introduction and a concluding earthquake”.
After the premiere on Good Friday, April 6, 1787, the composer made an arrangement for string quartet, where he printed the Latin words which he wanted to highlight, under the first violin part.
In 1796, Gottfried van Swieten, Haydn’s favoured librettist, produced the final text for the vocal/choral version with orchestra that is heard in modern performances during the Lenten season.