Following the successful first performance, Martin Enger Holm joined the ensemble once again for a second concert presenting Joseph Haydn’s Mass in D minor, widely known as the Nelson Mass, in Vienna, Austria. The performance brought one of the greatest masterpieces of the sacred choral repertoire to a new audience in the city where Haydn himself spent much of his career.

Martin appeared as the tenor soloist alongside soprano Simona Eisinger, alto Annely Peebo and bass Alexander Aigner. The performance featured Ensemble Neue Streicher under the direction of Daniel Freistetter, continuing a collaboration dedicated to presenting major works of the Classical sacred repertoire.

Performed in Pfarrkirche Hausleiten near Vienna, the concert celebrated one of Joseph Haydn’s most dramatic and enduring sacred compositions, combining powerful choral writing with expressive solo passages that continue to make the work a favourite among performers and audiences alike.

About the Work

Composed in 1798, the Mass in D minor, commonly known as the Nelson Mass (Missa in Angustiis), is regarded as one of Joseph Haydn’s greatest sacred compositions. Written during a period of political uncertainty in Europe, the work combines dramatic orchestral writing with moments of profound spiritual reflection.

The nickname “Nelson Mass” became associated with the composition after Admiral Horatio Nelson’s victory at the Battle of the Nile, although the title was not originally given by Haydn himself. Today, the work is considered one of the masterpieces of the Classical sacred repertoire and is regularly performed by leading choirs and orchestras throughout the world.

Martin Enger Holm as Tenor Soloist

As tenor soloist, Martin Enger Holm performed alongside an experienced quartet of international soloists, contributing to Haydn’s demanding vocal writing with clarity, lyrical expression and stylistic sensitivity.

The tenor part plays an important role throughout the Mass, alternating between lyrical solo passages and dramatic ensemble movements while blending with both choir and orchestra. Performing this repertoire requires musical precision, expressive phrasing and a deep understanding of Classical style.

About Joseph Haydn

Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the Classical period. Often referred to as the “Father of the Symphony” and the “Father of the String Quartet”, he also composed a remarkable collection of sacred music, including several Mass settings that remain central to today’s concert repertoire.

The Nelson Mass represents the culmination of Haydn’s mature sacred style and continues to be performed internationally more than two centuries after its premiere.

About the Performance

The concert brought together distinguished soloists, orchestra and choir in a performance of one of Haydn’s most celebrated sacred works. Under the direction of Daniel Freistetter, Ensemble Neue Streicher presented a historically informed interpretation that balanced dramatic intensity with Classical elegance.

The performance in the Vienna region formed part of an ongoing series dedicated to presenting major works of sacred choral literature, allowing audiences to experience one of the defining masterpieces of eighteenth-century music in an appropriate liturgical setting.

Sacred Concert Repertoire

Alongside his operatic engagements, Martin Enger Holm regularly performs concert and sacred repertoire ranging from Baroque masterpieces to Classical and Romantic works. Performances such as Haydn’s Nelson Mass demonstrate the versatility of his lyric tenor voice across both the concert platform and the opera stage.

By combining opera, oratorio and sacred music, Martin continues to develop a broad artistic repertoire that spans several centuries of vocal literature while collaborating with professional ensembles throughout Europe.