"The cross is always the beginning, always the starting point of the coordinates of the world."

Joseph Haydn's The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross is a really unique composition. The circumstances of its conception were also rather unusual. The Biblical composition was commissioned by the canon of Cádiz for the Good Friday service of the famous cave church of Santa Cueva. The commissioner provided the composer with a detailed description of the church, and also specified the main outline of the work in his additional requests for the ceremony. We shouldn't be surprised at the fact that Haydn was living three thousand kilometres away from the canon of Cádiz, as it is similarly difficult to understand how the stalwart churchman knew who the only living person capable of fulfilling his request was! Most importantly, the finished work didn't only please the commissioner, but also the composer. Haydn himself sensed the exceptional nature of his work and did his utmost to distribute the composition widely. As a result, the oratorio version, among other works, was also transcribed to a string quartet. Come and listen to one of the main events of the Con Spirito Church Music Festival in the Pécs Basilica with the Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra, under the artistic direction of István Várdai and concertmaster Péter Tfirst.

The concert is highlited event of the Church Music Festival.

Haydneum – Hungarian Centre for Early Music Foundation is supported by the Prime Minister's Office.