Critic’s Choice

By David Fleshler

Joseph_Haydn

The Master Chorale of South Florida this week will perform Haydn’s “Lord Nelson” Mass, a 1798 work that found the composer at the height of his powers.

Much has been written about how the mass came to be named for the British Admiral Horatio Nelson, who came to Vienna and met the composer two years after defeating Napoleon’s fleet at the Battle of the Nile.

Although unlikely to have been composed specifically for Nelson, the work was written at a desperate time in Austria’s war with France. The darkly dramatic tone of the opening “Kyrie” fits Haydn’s original name for the composition, “A Mass for Troubled Times.” Of course, Haydn being Haydn, the storm clouds soon part, and there are sunny arias, cheerful choruses and considerable fireworks for solo voices.

The chorale, which will be accompanied by the Lynn Philharmonia, will be conducted by artistic director Brett Karlin.

Performances will be 8 p.m. Friday at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, 8 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Miami and 4 p.m. Sunday at Wold Performing Arts Center at Lynn University. masterchoraleofsouthflorida.com; 954-641-2653.

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Mon Apr 25, 2016
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