Haydn: Die Sieben Letzten Worte Unseres Erlosers Am Kreuze
This was, at one time, the most popular piece of music that Haydn composed. It was originally written as a series of eight slow movements (an introduction, then the seven "words") and a final "earthquake" designed to be performed in a Spanish church during Holy Week. So famous did the music become that some hack made a vocal version of the work, which Haydn felt he could do much better himself. So he created this oratorio, as well as making (or approving) arrangements for string quartet and solo piano!  For the vocal version, he divided the work into two parts and added a stunning introduction to the second part for wind band alone. The result is unique in music of the classical period in its emotional intensity and Romantic expressiveness.  Nickolaus Harnoncourt directs what is quite simply the best performance of this version of the work.--David Hurwitz