Helmuth Rilling - Haydn: Missa Sancti Francisci, Requiem (1995) CD-Rip

This CD contains a fine performance of the Michael Haydn's Requiem, but if you are interested in hearing the much discussed striking influence of this Requiem on Mozart's, this is not most persuasive performance. For Rilling gives a rather musically suave reading, emphasizing a certain comforting quality to the music, and though you can still make the comparison, there is a better take on that angle. The old Hinreiner recording which was on a Koch/Schwann lp (I don't think it ever made it to CD) is actually much better for suggesting the almost spooky and dusky similarity between the two works. Still, this one is very heartfelt and enjoyable. But the much more spectacular event on this CD is the St. Francis Mass of Michael Haydn. According to the CD booklet notes this performance was based entirely on an unpublished manuscript. Given the greatness of this work, with strong monumental contours, that it was gathering dust in manuscript is just incredible. One can only hope that it has been published since then. The Mass, which was written for a big imperial celebration in the early 19th Century, is a work which hearkens back to an older time, but in the most grand and inspired way. It is a completely great work of Church music, on the level of any Mass by Mozart or Haydn, except perhaps the absolutely greatest. The performance i here s kind of the opposite of the suavity in the Requiem reading. This one is all riveting celebration and scintillating solo lines, and grand conception from top to bottom. It is really amazing, and I almost can't believe it took me so long in life to hear it, as I love this sort of music so, so much.