Boston Baroque - Haydn Creation - Criticaclassica.com

Franz Joseph Haydn wrote "Die Schöpfung" ("The Creation"), sacred oratorio for soprano, tenor, bass, chorus and orchestra, between 1796 and 1798.

The booklet, attribution is still controversial, had already been submitted to the composer in 1795, by Johann Peter Salomon, German impresario known transplanted in the UK.

Initially the text, which had as its main reference Milton's poem "Paradise Lost", to which were added steps of Genesis and the Book of Psalms, not particularly struck Haydn. The musician changed his mind, especially after the pressing insistence of Baron van Swieten and patron Vienna, author of the German translation. The overall result was an oratorio in three parts, the first two closely linked to the six days of creation, and the last which starred Adam (bass) and Eve (soprano) at the threshold of Original Sin, all filtered through the story of the archangels Gabriel (soprano), Uriel (tenor) and Raphael (bass).

The public debut, which took place in 1799 at the Burgtheater in Vienna, was crowned with a huge success, remained unchanged to the present day. The oratory was recently proposed by the Scottish Linn home, in a double hybrid Super Audio CD, where execution is entrusted to the Boston Baroque Ensemble, directed by Martin Pearlman, and Amanda Forsythe solo voices (soprano), Keith Jameson (tenor) and Kevin Deas (bass-baritone). This is a recording of the highest level, thanks in part to the excellent performance of the U.S. team, capable of exalting the bright colors and the most solemn, that the three singers, with voices of great intensity.

For these reasons, this recording should be considered a sure point of reference for anyone who wants to, in the future, dealing with Haydn's masterpiece.