J. Haydn Harmoniemesse at St. Stephen's Cathedral

About the Event

Experience Joseph Haydn's Harmoniemesse, his final and illustrious mass among six celebrated compositions, and his ultimate masterpiece. This triumphant work, paired with The Creation and The Seasons, marks the pinnacle of his achievements. The program is enriched further by captivating pieces from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn’s brother, Michael Haydn.

Initially performed in 1802, the Harmoniemesse, one of Haydn’s last masses written for Prince Nicholas II Esterházy, earned its name “Harmony Mass” not from specific harmonics but from the substantial role of wind instruments (“harmony music”) that, together with the choir and orchestra, lend a grand and sonorous texture. A testament to Haydn's seasoned prowess, the Harmony Mass resonates with profound musical and emotional depth.

Guided by conductor János Czifra, this event is part of the Choir Festival, where vocalists from around the globe converge for intensive rehearsals. The festival’s zenith is a performance featuring esteemed soloists accompanied by the Vienna Cathedral Orchestra at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna – a site intimately connected to Haydn, where he sang as a choir boy for nine years and later exchanged vows with his wife Aloysia.