Joseph Haydn - Harmoniemesse (William Christie)

Information

Composer: Joseph Haydn

• Harmoniemesse in B-Flat Major, Hob XXII:14
• Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo in B-Flat Major, Hob XXII:7

Mélissa Petit, soprano

Beth Taylor, mezzo-soprano

Bastien Rimondi, tenor

Andreas Wolf, bass-baritone

Les Arts Florissants

William Christie, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: harmonia mundi

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Joseph Haydn’s Harmoniemesse, his final major sacred masterpiece, masterfully balances liturgical solemnity with brilliant orchestral writing driven by his inventive, prominent use of woodwinds. Conversely, his intimate and luminous Missa brevis ‘St John of God’ expresses a quieter, deeply contemplative faith. Conducting the renowned ensemble Les Arts Florissants alongside an elite quartet of vocal soloists, Maestro William Christie directs both works with profound authority and poetic sensitivity. This compelling contrast illuminates two distinct facets of Haydn's spiritual creativity, bringing the vivid orchestral grandeur and the serene sacred devotion into perfect, harmonious balance.

Les Arts Florissants, founded in 1979 and closely associated with its founder William Christie, is an internationally renowned ensemble specialising in Baroque music performed on period instruments. Named after the opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, it has also been regularly conducted by Paul Agnew since 2007. The ensemble has played a major role in reviving neglected 17th- and 18th-century repertoire, particularly French Baroque works, while also performing opera, sacred music and concert programmes worldwide. Its extensive discography and global concert activity are complemented by a strong commitment to education, including initiatives such as the Jardin des Voix academy and collaborations with institutions like the Juilliard School.

William Christie (b. 1944, Buffalo, USA) studied at Harvard and Yale before settling in France in 1971. In 1979 he founded the ensemble Les Arts Florissants, transforming the performance of Baroque music with pioneering revivals of neglected repertoire. International recognition came in 1987 with Lully’s Atys at the Opéra Comique. Christie is a master of French Baroque, from Charpentier to Rameau, but also performs Italian composers like Monteverdi and Rossi, as well as Purcell, Handel, Mozart, and Haydn. With over 70 recordings, he is also a sought-after guest conductor at major opera houses and festivals. A passionate mentor, he has trained generations of young artists, many of whom now lead Baroque ensembles worldwide.

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