The Old Court Chapel
Variable program
Every Saturday you can expect a special cultural hallmark in the Munich Residence troughout the year. The Residence Soloists are performing in the Court Chapel (Hofkapelle) The historical atmosphere of the court chapel in which also Mozart was performing concerts lets you get in touch with the music of old times. You will find weekly changing performances with masterpieces ranging from Bach, Vivaldi, Haydn and Mozart.
Please notice: In summertimes the old court chapel is cool and in wintertimes it can be cold! please wear warm clothes.
The Old Court Chapel
Variable program
Every Saturday you can expect a special cultural hallmark in the Munich Residence troughout the year. The Residence Soloists are performing in the Court Chapel (Hofkapelle) The historical atmosphere of the court chapel in which also Mozart was performing concerts lets you get in touch with the music of old times. You will find weekly changing performances with masterpieces ranging from Bach, Vivaldi, Haydn and Mozart.
Please notice: In summertimes the old court chapel is cool and in wintertimes it can be cold! please wear warm clothes.
The Old Court Chapel
Haydn: Joseph Haydn’s The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross - in the version with string quartet dedicated to the archbishop of Cádiz.
Joseph Haydn – The Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the Cross, String Quartet Version
Joseph Haydn’s The Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the Cross stands as one of the most profound sacred works of the late 18th century, blending deep spiritual expression with masterful compositional clarity. Originally composed in 1786 for Good Friday liturgy in Cádiz as an orchestral meditation on the seven last words of Christ on the cross, Haydn later arranged the work for string quartet, dedicating this version to the Archbishop of Cádiz. This intimate arrangement allows listeners to experience the work in a concentrated and deeply personal way, highlighting the expressive power of each instrumental voice.
The work is structured in eight movements: seven meditative movements, each corresponding to one of Christ’s last words, followed by a concluding Sonata movement representing resurrection and hope. Each movement is carefully crafted to reflect the emotional and spiritual character of the text:
- “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” – A slow, poignant movement conveying Christ’s compassion and humility.
- “Today you will be with me in Paradise” – Gentle melodies and lyrical contours evoke a sense of promise and serene acceptance.
- “Woman, behold your son” – Expressive interplay between the quartet’s voices brings the intimate human dimension to life.
- “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – The most dramatic movement, with dissonances and dense textures reflecting pain and human anguish.
- “I thirst” – Simplicity, rhythmic clarity, and restraint convey human vulnerability and longing.
- “It is finished” – A dignified and solemn movement representing the fulfillment of divine purpose.
- “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” – Harmonic calm and meditative atmosphere lead to spiritual surrender and reflection.
- Sonata / “Terremoto” – The final Allegro, originally conceived as an expression of resurrection, conveys hope, light, and transcendence.
The string quartet version distills the orchestral grandeur into the four-part intimate texture of two violins, viola, and cello. Each instrument carries melodic and harmonic responsibility, bringing the listener into immediate contact with the work’s inner life. The balance of structural rigor, emotional depth, and dramatic expression makes this version not only a masterpiece of chamber music but also a pinnacle of sacred composition.
Performing this work demands both technical precision and a deep understanding of its spiritual dimensions. The quartet arrangement allows the music to unfold in a meditative, almost contemplative manner, emphasizing the emotional resonance of every phrase. Haydn’s extraordinary ability to translate universal human emotions—grief, compassion, hope, and transcendence—into musical language is fully evident in this work.
Through this composition, Haydn achieves the rare feat of uniting the reflective power of sacred music with the intimacy and tension of chamber music. The result is a work of timeless beauty and profound emotional impact, inviting audiences into a deeply moving spiritual journey.
The Old Court Chapel
Variable program
Every Saturday you can expect a special cultural hallmark in the Munich Residence troughout the year. The Residence Soloists are performing in the Court Chapel (Hofkapelle) The historical atmosphere of the court chapel in which also Mozart was performing concerts lets you get in touch with the music of old times. You will find weekly changing performances with masterpieces ranging from Bach, Vivaldi, Haydn and Mozart.
Please notice: In summertimes the old court chapel is cool and in wintertimes it can be cold! please wear warm clothes.
The Old Court Chapel
Variable program
Every Saturday you can expect a special cultural hallmark in the Munich Residence troughout the year. The Residence Soloists are performing in the Court Chapel (Hofkapelle) The historical atmosphere of the court chapel in which also Mozart was performing concerts lets you get in touch with the music of old times. You will find weekly changing performances with masterpieces ranging from Bach, Vivaldi, Haydn and Mozart.
Please notice: In summertimes the old court chapel is cool and in wintertimes it can be cold! please wear warm clothes.
The Old Court Chapel
Variable program
Every Saturday you can expect a special cultural hallmark in the Munich Residence troughout the year. The Residence Soloists are performing in the Court Chapel (Hofkapelle) The historical atmosphere of the court chapel in which also Mozart was performing concerts lets you get in touch with the music of old times. You will find weekly changing performances with masterpieces ranging from Bach, Vivaldi, Haydn and Mozart.
Please notice: In summertimes the old court chapel is cool and in wintertimes it can be cold! please wear warm clothes.
The Old Court Chapel
Variable program
Every Saturday you can expect a special cultural hallmark in the Munich Residence troughout the year. The Residence Soloists are performing in the Court Chapel (Hofkapelle) The historical atmosphere of the court chapel in which also Mozart was performing concerts lets you get in touch with the music of old times. You will find weekly changing performances with masterpieces ranging from Bach, Vivaldi, Haydn and Mozart.
Please notice: In summertimes the old court chapel is cool and in wintertimes it can be cold! please wear warm clothes.
The Old Court Chapel
Variable program
Every Saturday you can expect a special cultural hallmark in the Munich Residence troughout the year. The Residence Soloists are performing in the Court Chapel (Hofkapelle) The historical atmosphere of the court chapel in which also Mozart was performing concerts lets you get in touch with the music of old times. You will find weekly changing performances with masterpieces ranging from Bach, Vivaldi, Haydn and Mozart.
Please notice: In summertimes the old court chapel is cool and in wintertimes it can be cold! Please wear warm clothes.
The Old Court Chapel
Variable program
Every Saturday you can expect a special cultural hallmark in the Munich Residence troughout the year. The Residence Soloists are performing in the Court Chapel (Hofkapelle) The historical atmosphere of the court chapel in which also Mozart was performing concerts lets you get in touch with the music of old times. You will find weekly changing performances with masterpieces ranging from Bach, Vivaldi, Haydn and Mozart.
Please notice: In summertimes the old court chapel is cool and in wintertimes it can be cold! Please wear warm clothes.
The Old Court Chapel
Variable program
Every Saturday you can expect a special cultural hallmark in the Munich Residence troughout the year. The Residence Soloists are performing in the Court Chapel (Hofkapelle) The historical atmosphere of the court chapel in which also Mozart was performing concerts lets you get in touch with the music of old times. You will find weekly changing performances with masterpieces ranging from Bach, Vivaldi, Haydn and Mozart.
Please notice: In summertimes the old court chapel is cool and in wintertimes it can be cold! Please wear warm clothes.
