Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Joseph Haydn: The Creation, Hob XX1: 2. Image via MSO.
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra delivers a night of choral mastery with Joseph Haydn’s The Creation.
Haydn wrote the oratorio after a visit to London when he was already a revered composer. The piece it is said was influenced heavily by a 1000 strong performance of Handel’s Messiah in Westminster Abbey. It tells the story of heaven and earth being created, of chaos transformed into meaning. This performance saw the libretto sung in English (a slightly altered version than the original which had some not quite right turns of phrase) but was also written in German; the first bilingual published work of this scale.
The Creation is made up of three parts and was written for three soloists, a chorus and orchestra. The first two parts follows the six days of creation according to the Bible – each day bringing something new, such as sunrise, plants and animals. The third part portrays Adam and Eve’s wonder at the Garden of Eden, although it stops just short of the forbidden fruit. In fact the whole piece famously focuses on awe and celebration and is commonly billed as a life-affirming and uplifting program.
It was a smooth if quite serious performance of a joyous work, (with an unexpected interval mid way through the second part – which seemed to come as something of a surprise to some of the musicians as well). The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra played with delicacy and precision, special mention to Concertmaster – Eoin Anderson, Timpani – Brent Miller and the Fortepiano by Stein – Anthony Abouhamad. Chief conductor Sir Andrew Davies danced on his riser with his usual enthusiasm and flamboyance. The Archangels: Soprano – Siobhan Stagg, Tenor – Andrew Staples and Bass – Neal Davies were impeccable, singing with depth, clarity and emotion. Whenever the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus stood up anticipation fizzed in the air. There is something about voices raised together in song that tugs at the soul – the chorus most definitely did that – they made me want to dance in my seat.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
The Creation
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Joseph Haydn: The Creation, Hob XX1: 2
Sir Andrew Davies, conductor
Siobhan Stagg, soprano
Shakira Tsindos, mezzo soprano
Andrew Staples, tenor
Neal Davies, bass
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Hamer Hall
15 June 2017
