Joseph Haydn regarded The Seven Last Words of Christ as one of his crowning achievements. We perform this rarely-heard work in a uniquely intimate concert at Adelaide’s St Peter’s Cathedral.

In 1786 Haydn received an unusual commission for a work to be performed in an underground church in the Spanish city of Cádiz. The work was to be staged on Good Friday and consist of seven musical meditations on the final words of Christ. Haydn found the work extremely challenging to complete given the unique requirement of the commission, “it was no easy task to compose seven adagios lasting ten minutes each… indeed, I found it quite impossible to confine myself to the appointed limits.” The result, however, the composer personally considered to be one of his finest achievements.

Experience this unique work, presented in the round, in the awe-inspiring surrounds of St Peter’s Cathedral.

Read ASQ violist Christopher Cartlidge’s insights on this fascinating work.