Midnight, Saturdays, in the cloisters of the Minoriten am Mariahilferplatz: Piano sounds of a work on “The Last Seven Words of Christ” – music by Joseph Haydn in Haydn Year. Music whose expression is, however, also reminiscent of Morton Feldman – at least in the version for piano performed by Marino Formenti. Bernhard Lang’s “Seven Last Words”, that refer directly to Haydn, are like a photographic negative of this: Engrossment becomes elevation, piety becomes rebellion, but the image of musical intensity, of what is ultimately metaphysical challenge, remains the same.

Joseph Haydn / Marino Formenti