Key Chorale Presents Mozart’s “Coronation Mass,”and Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass,” in Coronation: Mozart & Haydn

February 24, 2021 – Sarasota

Acclaimed soprano Suzanne Karpov will make her Key Chorale debut, joining the Key Chorale Chamber Singers and orchestra for a performance of Coronation: Mozart & Haydn, two timeless masterpieces by Classical music’s original trailblazers who changed the course of music. Mozart’s Coronation Mass gained its nickname when it was conducted by Antonio Salieri for the coronation of Leopold II as King of Bohemia. Haydn wrote his Lord Nelson Mass, originally titled a Mass in Troubled Times, as Napoleon’s army marched toward Vienna. Soprano Suzanne Karpov will be joined by baritone Jamal Sarikoki, tenor Matt Morgan and Mezzo Soprano Amy Connours led by conductor Joseph Caulkins. 

Mozart and Haydn were close friends; Haydn was a mentor to the younger Mozart, and the two would often play string quartets together with Mozart playing the viola and Haydn playing the violin. In fact, Mozart even dedicated six of his string quartets to Joseph Haydn titled the “Haydn” Quartets. These two contrasting mass settings demonstrate the genius and craftsmanship of two of Classical music’s most skilled composers. 

The Mozart Mass in C major was written in 1779 in Salzburg. It is considered Mozart’s greatest complete setting of the mass. Mozart had taken a position as court organist with the Archbishop of Salzburg. This mass was first performed in Salzburg on Easter Sunday 1779 and was later performed at the coronation of several Holy Roman Emperors. 

The Archbishop of Salzburg, for whom the mass was written, had clear expectations regarding how long a liturgical piece of music was to be: “a mass with all its movements, even for the most solemn occasions…must not last more than 3/4 of an hour.” Mozart then said, “One needs a special kind of training for this kind of composition.”

As a result of the Archbishop’s expectations, Mozart composes this mass in a tight structure – in less than 45 minutes – that has lively rhythms, soaring melodies, grand choruses, and festive fanfares for trumpet, timpani and horns. 

The other contrasting setting of the mass by Haydn, was written in 1798 and was originally titled the Mass For Troubled Times. Austria was living through a difficult period with Napoleon defeating the Austrian army in 4 major battles and threatening Vienna itself. Nelson was in command of the British fleet and had annihilated Napoleon’s fleet in the Battle of the Nile. While this did not totally defeat Napoleon, Nelson was acclaimed the savior of Europe. The mass became known as the Lord Nelson Mass possibly as a result of Nelson visiting the Esterhazy court and meeting Haydn. 

The Haydn mass while ending joyously in the key of D Major, is written in the key of D Minor, a key associated with stress, even doom. The Haydn mass is expansive and dramatic. Haydn was not burdened by expectations of how long the piece was to be or if fugal writing was or was not to occur. This work according to Haydn’s biographer is perhaps “Haydn’s greatest single composition.” 

“Haydn wrote his Mass in Troubled Times, as Napoleon’s army marched toward Vienna in 1798,” said Maestro Caulkins. “It was a time of anxiety and distress. In 2021, it is indeed another time of distress and anxiety as we deal with a worldwide pandemic. In troubled times, musicians seem to find a way to bring beauty into the world. The performing arts have found this time to be a time of re-imaging and re-envisioning the way we create art. We are finding new ways to perform an old artform.” 

Tickets to watch the 75-minute online streaming video are $30 per household; patrons will receive a viewing link that can be activated any time during the streaming run. To purchase, go to keychorale.org. Online streaming concert March 5 – March 28.