Creative

Back to that part of the shelf that houses the BBC Music mag covermount cd's and on this occasion back in 2001 they split the work over two issues, the work in question being Haydn's The Creation. The performers on the disk are the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Singers conducted by Harry Christophers, with soloists Nancy Argenta, William Kendall and Michael George. Haydn's oratorio sets the story of Genesis from God beavering around over six days to the appearance of Adam and Eve. It is a joyful celebratory work throughout, positive and in bright colours. It doesn't follow the story as far as the apple and the snake. The beginning orchestral stirrings are the ultimate sunrise music, this representing the first sunrise of course. There is the celebrated explosion of major chords for the arrival of light. When I first began exploring classical music, the element I had most trouble coming to terms with was the classically trained voice which sounded alien to my rock sensibilities. This early BBC disk was one that helped me over that phobia and stands up as a very good concert performance of this piece. Haydn may not have the gift for melody of Mozart but this is a very warm and civilised composition.