Hickox: Haydn – The Complete Mass Edition (8 CD box set, APE)

Performer: Stephen Varcoe, Catherine Denley, Louise Winter, Pamela Helen Stephen, Ian Watson, et al.
Orchestra: Collegium Musicum 90
Conductor: Richard Hickox
Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 8 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Chandos
Size: 2.17 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc: 1
Mass for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in B flat major (‘Theresienmesse’), H. 22/12
Missa brevis St. Joannis de Deo, for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in B flat major (‘Little Organ Mass’), H. 22/7

Disc: 2
Mass for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in B flat major (‘Schöpfungsmesse’), H. 22/13
Missa Rorate coeli desuper, in G major (lost), H. 22/3

Disc: 3
Mass for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in B flat major (‘Harmoniemesse’), H. 22/14
Salve Regina, for soprano, chorus, 2 violins & organ, in E major, H. 23b/1

Disc: 4
Te Deum, for soloists, chorus, orchestra & organ in C major, H. 23c/1
Missa in Tempore belli, for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in C major (‘Paukenmesse’), H. 22/9
Alfred, König der Angelsachsen, or Der patriotische König, incidental music, H. 30/5
Grosses Te Deum, for chorus, orchestra & organ in C major, H. 23c/2

Disc: 5
Mass for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in D minor (‘Lord Nelson’), H. 22/11
Ave Regina Coelorum for soprano, chorus, 2 violins & organ in A major, H. 23b/3
Missa brevis, for 2 sopranos, chorus, organ & strings in F major, H. 22/1

Disc: 6
Missa Sancti Bernardi von Offida, for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in B flat major (‘Heiligmesse’), H. 22/10
Missa Sancti Nicolai, for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in G major (‘Nikolaimesse’), H. 22/6

Disc: 7
Missa Cellensis, for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in C major (‘Cantata Mass’), H. 22/5
Missa Sunt Bona Mixta Malis, for chorus & organ in D minor, H. 22/2

Disc: 8
Missa in honorem BVM, for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in E flat major (‘Missa St. Joseph’ / ‘Great Organ Mass’), H. 22/4
Missa Cellensis, for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra in C major (‘Mariazellermesse’), H. 22/8

As close to being there while Haydn conducted as your going to get.
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2009
Format: Audio CDVerified Purchase
A previous reviewer criticized the lack of a full sized cathedral choir in the background. True. The soloists were not of Pavarotti caliber. True. But, even if you were a member of the aristocracy and personally commissioned Haydn for these particular masses, you wouldn’t hear any better. Let’s get real.
Voices are reasonably crisp. Musical reproduction crisp, well metered, distinct, and reasonable body.
As for these particular compositions. I own masses by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn. Haydn brings far more life and “pizzaz” (for lack of a better word), then those other renown composers. So, if you are new to classical/baroque masses, I would put these at the top of your wish list, and then expand to other composers as you build out your collection. I would recommend, this particular set because it may not be perfect, but this mediocre but critical ear is sufficiently satisfied.