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"Die sieben letzten worte unseres erlösers am kreuze", Hob **:1 to give it its full title, is a relatively rarely performed and recorded oratorio. The Seven Last Words (as it is popularly known) is both profound and deeply inspiring. The original (1C) consisted of 8 movements of choral writing interspersed with instrumental interludes, and it is especially daring and challenging to both the listener and the performer in that it is almost entirely Adagio, Grave, Largo or Lento (i.e. very slow). Haydn originally composed it as a work for a large string orchestra in 1785, for a commission by the cathedral in the Spanish city of Cadiz. It was headed “seven sonatas with an introduction and a concluding earthquake”. The following year saw an arrangement for string quartet (1B), in which the words were printed in Latin under the first violin part. This second version (of three - the third being the choral version, 1C) is the one that will be heard on September 29 at 7pm at the Goethe Institute, Colombo. The words mentioned above, will be spoken in English, with a well known thespian, Steve de la Zilwa, and featuring a doublebass obbligato which will underline the richly sonorous bass line, which is so important to our appreciation of Haydn.
Lakshman Joseph-de Saram, violin
Sulara Nanayakkara, violin
Ilana McNamara, viola
Rochana Ramanayaka, violoncello
Nilanthi Weerakoon, contrabass
Steve de la Zilwa, speaker
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Goethe-Institut Sri Lanka, Café Eklektik, Srimath R G Senanayake Mawatha, 07 Colombo, Sri Lanka,Colombo, Sri Lanka
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