Helsinki Baroque: Bach's Hohe Messe

Bach's monumental Hohe Messe has only had the status of magnum opus since the 19th century. It will be enjoyed with the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra, founded in 1997, and its conductor Aapo Häkkinen. They have a 'thrillingly rich dynamic sound', according to The Times.



Bach's Hohe Messe

Together with the St John's and St Matthew's Passions, the Hohe Messe is one of the highlights of Bach's dazzlingly large religious oeuvre. Three masterpieces: the two passions for the Lutheran, and the Mass for the Catholic Church. However, Bach's Mass in B minor, which is now an integral part of our musical life, is still surrounded by riddles and mysteries. Bach himself probably never heard the work in its entirety.



Bach probably never heard his Mass

Bach sent the Kyrie and Gloria to the Saxon Elector in Dresden in 1733. It is still not clear why, at the end of his life, he expanded the two parts into a complete mass. The mass is simply too long to be performed during a Catholic service. Perhaps parts of it were performed during solemn feast days in Leipzig? Was Bach thinking of performing it in the new Catholic court church in Dresden? Or, as has also been suggested, a performance during the 1750 Caecilia Festival in Vienna? The Helsinki Baroque Orchestra - according to one reviewer 'ideal: frisch, exakt, nie verbissen und technisch reif' - can 'only' demonstrate: it is simply beautiful music.