Joseph Haydn - The Seven Last Words of Christ (David Jalbert)

Information

Composer: Joseph Haydn

• Les Sept dernières paroles du Christ en croix, Hob. XX:1b

David Jalbert, piano

Date: 2020

Label: ATMA Classique

https://atmaclassique.com/produit/haydn-les-sept-dernieres-paroles-du-christ-hob-xx1c/

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 9 / SOUND QUALITY: 9

Haydn’s Seven Last Words of the Savior on the Cross exists in four versions: the orchestral original, the oratorio arrangement, and transcriptions for string quartet and solo piano. The last of these was not by Haydn, but allegedly was authorized by him. Frankly only the first two make any sense, offering a scheme of contrasting textures, colors, and dynamics that justifies the sequence of eight slow movements (including the introduction), never mind the splendidly graphic concluding “earthquake.” Historically, the most popular version (on disc at least) has been the one for string quartet because it’s cheap to do and adds an automatic degree of seriousness, even profundity, to the work of a composer too often mistakenly treated as a lightweight.

The piano version, however, has its own attractions if you have a soloist willing to treat tempos flexibly, and exploit the dynamic range of a modern instrument tastefully and strategically. David Jalbert is certainly one such. He doesn’t pound the ivories with the sort of percussive intensity that Ronald Brautigam’s fortepiano (BIS) offers by default, nor does he attempt to match John McCabe’s quasi-Brucknerian solemnity. Rather, Jalbert lets his instrument sing, reminding us that each movement begins with a musical setting of the actual “words” in question. This permits an extra degree of tenderness to “Ecce Mulier Filius tuus,” and a truly moving serenity to “In manus tuus, Domini, commendo Spirito meum.”

As for the final “Earthquake,” Jalbert supplements the printed text both there (and a bit elsewhere) very sensitively, to provide fuller textures and a more graphic response to the music’s expressive intentions. Warmly engineered, this very attractive release deserves consideration both for its own sake, and if you’re interested in the various iterations of this singular Haydn masterpiece.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

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Joseph Haydn (31 March 1732 – 31 May 1809) was a prominent and prolific Austrian composer of the Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the piano trio and his contributions to musical form have earned him the epithets "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet". Haydn's work was central to the development of what came to be called sonata form. At the time of his death, aged 77, he was one of the most celebrated composers in Europe. Haydn was a friend and mentor of Mozart, a teacher of Beethoven, and the older brother of composer Michael Haydn.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Haydn

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David Jalbert is a Canadian concert pianist and professor at the University of Ottawa. Born November 3, 1977 in Rimouski, Quebec, he studied at the Conservatoire de Rimouski, the Conservatoire du Québec, the Université de Montréal, the Glenn Gould School in Toronto, and the Juilliard School. Jalbert placed first several times at the Canadian Music Competition during his youth. In 2003, he signed a recording contract with Endeavour in the United States. In 2008 he signed with the ATMA Classique label. Jalbert also regularly performs chamber music with his trio, Triple Forte, and the wind quintet Pentaèdre.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Jalbert_(pianist)

https://davidjalbert.com/en/

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