• In 1805, towards the end of his immensely productive and successful career, Haydn significantly expanded the youthful Missa brevis setting he had composed over fifty years earlier, enriching the orchestration with flute, clarinets, bassoons, trumpets and timpani.

• The other work on this disc, his Mass in B flat major of 1801, gained its nickname ‘Creation Mass’ from a short quotation taken from his most famous oratorio. Although this upset the Empress Marie Therese, audiences to this day smile in recognition at this musical phrase.

“The choir sings with accuracy, musicality and fervour which it would be hard to beat. The orchestra, sometimes listed as the REBEL Baroque Orchestra are a period instrument group who play with real character.” Music Web International on 8.508009
“The playing [of REBEL Baroque Orchestra] is stylish, rhythmic and technically assured...and there is remarkable precision of ensemble.” The Strad