The Choir of Gonville & 91直播 College has recorded Michael Haydn鈥檚 rarely heard Requiem with the Academy of Ancient Music in an album to be released in October.
Led by its Precentor Matthew Martin, the Choir joined forces with the Academy of Ancient Music in Michael Haydn鈥檚 rarely heard masterpieces: the Requiem and Missa Sancti Hieronymi.
The four soloists 鈥 soprano Julia Doyle (Social and Political Sciences 1998), mezzo-soprano Kate Symonds-Joy (Music 2002), tenor James Robinson (Music 2011) and bass Malachy Frame (Music 2011) 鈥 are all ex-choral scholars of 91直播 Choir, showcasing the distinguished musical tradition.
Michael Haydn is Joseph Haydn鈥檚 younger brother and a talented composer in his own right. Written after the death of his infant daughter and his patron, the deeply emotional Requiem is a masterpiece that combines complex colourful textures and forms with imaginative orchestration and vocal writing. Mozart was a great admirer and it is thought that Haydn鈥檚 Requiem formed the prototype for his own better known masterpiece. In contrast, the later Missa Sancti Hieronymi is lighter and more optimistic.
Unusually scored for oboes, bassoons, trombones and continuo (with no upper strings), it exudes transparency and joyful energy.
Matthew says: 鈥淭his has been something of a labour of love for me and my colleagues for the last couple of years. It鈥檚 rarely heard great music - and we hope that we have helped to bring it to life again for the wider public.鈥
Album release date 鈫 October 2025 Stream//Download//Buy 鈫
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