Tonbridge Philharmonic Society

In March we take you to Austria (via England!) for our next concert. It’s Lent, so the theme is somewhat quieter.

We start with Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus, gentle music with hints of his Requiem, and then move on to Haydn’s Symphony 26, La Lamentatione, a passionate expression of grief. Finzi’s choice of 17^th century poems for Lo, the full final, sacrifice makes this anthem fit in well, since its tender consideration of a future salvation ends with optimism.

Back to Haydn for the Missa in Angustiis, or ‘Mass for Troubled Times’, which is known as the Nelson Mass. At the time it was written Austria was threatened by Napoleon, but news of the British victory against the French in the Battle of the Nile arrived just before the first performance. The public changed the name of the Mass, but its original one seems very suitable for the world of today.