“THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF OUR SAVIOUR ON THE CROSS" Op. 51 by Franz Joseph Haydn

“THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF OUR SAVIOUR ON THE CROSS" IN CONWAL PARISH CHURCH ON SUNDAY 23rd MARCH

The Donegal Chamber Music Society continues its Sunday afternoon concert series in Letterkenny on 23rd of March. The Donegal Camerata will perform Franz Joseph Haydn’s "The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross" Op. 51 for string quartet in Conwal Parish Church.

Photo: The Donegal Camerata String Quartet with Rev. Canon Stewart Wright, who will be reading the "Seven Last Words of Christ" during the concert on Sunday

In 1786 Haydn was commissioned to compose an orchestral work called The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour On the Cross. The work was designed for a performance at the Good Friday service at the Cádiz Cathedral in Southern Spain. Haydn later adapted it for string quartet in 1787. The piece last about one hour and includes seven slow sections that are meditations on each of the last seven words or phrases spoken by Jesus on the Cross. Haydn also added an Introduction and a final movement called Earthquake. This deeply moving masterpiece is presented by the ensemble as a Lenten preparation for Holy Week.

The Donegal Camerata is an international string ensemble of professional players based in the North West. The string quartet consists of Hungarian violinist Orsolya Szabó-Yélamo (first violin), Northern Ireland violinist Claire Cunningham (second violin); Slovakian string player Lucia Spacirova (viola); Spanish musician Víctor Yélamo (cello).

"The Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the Cross", Op. 51 by Franz Joseph Haydn will be performed by the Donegal Camerata String Quartet on 23rd of March in Conwal Parish Church at 3pm. Admission €10/ 5, tickets will be available at the door.