Mogens Woldike conducts Haydn's Missa Sancti Bernardi Con Offida (Heiligmesse)

One of my very favorite conductors of the music of Franz Josef Haydn was the esteemed Danish musician, Mogens Woldike. I can remember the first time listening to his Vienna recording of Symphony No 102. The performance bounced along with merriment and humor in a rustic, "everyman" kind of way. No pompousness, just exhiliarating music making, scrupulously prepared and observant of the composer's intentions which was to entertain and, subtly educate, the listener.


As I do love Woldike's Missa in tempore belli, also from Vienna, I was excited to come across this earlier recording, from 1953.  Woldike is on his home turf, utilizing an outstanding boy's choir for choruses and solos and the fine Copenhagen Opera orchestra for instrumental support. This Heiligmesse does not disappoint. Like Woldike's Missa in tempore belli, there is firm structure and movements are well connected since the conductor understands that the liturgy is cohesive in meaning and cannot be approached as a series of distinct musical movements. And, most important, the Copenhagen Boys Choir is marvelous, a superb assemblage of highly talented and motivated boys and young men.  Clearly they understand the intent of their director and the music and, their presentation has that nobility and spiritual quality that Catholic masses had to convey to the congregation and the celebrants. Importantly,Woldike is as "in tune" with the mass as he was with the symphony, though they are very, very different forms of writing. 

I think this recording has held up well, I prefer it to Gardiner and Hickox. I am most pleased to share it.

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