I am the proud owner of this recording and it has pride of place in my collection. There's a lot to say about this, so I will hopefully cover as much as I can!
HAYDN Franz Joseph Haydn is the father of classical music in its true sense. He lived in Austria between 1732 and 1809, and invented the symphony and the string quartet. during his life, he composed over 100 symphonies, and dozens of other works, including concertos, string quartets, quintets, chamber music, masses and oratorios. Haydn was a religious person, and it may be because of this that his greatest works include masses and oratorios (religious themes set to music). There is so much to say about him, but more information can be found on various websites and books.
THE ORCHESTRA AND PERIOD MUSIC
The work is performed by the Academy of Ancient Music, a leading orchestra which performs music as it would have been heard at the time it was written. The Academy is over 40 years old, and is regarded as not
just the finest period orchestra, but one of the finest orchestras of any type. They have produced many works for various record labels. Their website can be found at www.aam.co.uk. The instruments used either date from the time the music being played was written, or are replicas of such instruments. They're construction is a lot different from that of today (stringed instruments, for example, had the strings made from catgut, and not metal as it is now), and as a result, the sound produced is somewhat different to that of an orchestra using modern instruments. I can't really describe the sound, the first time I heard it, I hated it, but now I won't listen to anything that is not on period instruments! I suppose it is an acquired taste, but I think the sound is far superior to that of a modern orchestra.
THE WORK The Creation was first performed in 1798 in Vienna, and the work has not lost any significance in it's message over the two and a half centuries since. It is an oratorio, which is a religious work set to music, and it accounts the creation of the world as described in Genesis. We start off with Chaos, before the creation, and proceed to the 6 days in which God created light, the heavens, weather, grass, creatures and beasts, the stars and finally man. The story is told by three angels, Gabriel (Emma Kirkby, who also sings the part of Eve), Raphael (Michael George, who also plays Adam) and Uriel (Anthony Johnstone). Each point of creation starts by one of the angels describing what is to come in the form of a libretto and continuo (a musical speech with a piano accompaniment). After this, a description of the act in question (the creation of light, or beasts for example), is depicted with an aria, and the end of each day is rounded with a chorus. Haydn does a splendid job of painting a picture with music, and there is something in this work to please everyone, due to the vast variety of moods and feelings created. Chaos, for example, is played ever so quietly, and then at the creation of light.....well, I won't spoil it! We here drums being bashed to represent thunder; delicate woodwind for the creation of fauna and a vast choir that sings triumphantly to praise the work of God. Towards the end, we come to Adam and Eve, their joy at being created and paired together and their thanks to God. Before the magnificent final chorus (through which the instruments must have had a good thrashing), we here a warning from Uriel about conceit and there being "more to know than know ye should" - a reference to sin (The Apple in the Garden of Eden), and probably relevant to human nature now. My favourite include the creation of light, the stars, and the creation of man (i dare anyone with a heart not to have at leats get a lump in their throat!). Listen and see! Despite it being a religious work, you do not have to be religious to listen or appreciate it, the majesty of the work should play out over any atheist inklings! (I am atheist by the way!).
THE DISC The work is a two disc box set, beautifully presented in a cardboard outer casing. It comes complete with an informatio booklet (82 pages - but it is in French, German, Italian and English). the book gives a concise history of the work and the composer, and also provides a libretto (so you can read what is being sung), photgraphs of the orchestra and key players and even a plan of the orchestra layout!
I would recommend this CD to serious collectors, but some may be put off by the price (I paid £35 for mine in the high street, though I am sure it can be bought cheaper online), and that it is on period instruments. If you haven't heard a period orchestra before, then buy a cheap CD of one (a famous high street store will help you) and see if it's for you - or make sure that the shop has a refund policy just in case. Whatever you do, don't judge it on one hearing - so much of this has grown on me and I always hear things on each playing that I never heard before. A must for any collector!
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