MusicWeb International One of the most grown-up review sites around 2024
60,000 reviews
... and still writing ...

Search MusicWeb Here Acte Prealable Polish CDs
 

Presto Music CD retailer
 
Founder: Len Mullenger                                    Editor in Chief:John Quinn             

Some items
to consider

new MWI
Current reviews

old MWI
pre-2023 reviews

paid for
advertisements

Acte Prealable Polish recordings

Forgotten Recordings
Forgotten Recordings
All Forgotten Records Reviews

TROUBADISC
Troubadisc Weinberg- TROCD01450

All Troubadisc reviews


FOGHORN Classics

Alexandra-Quartet
Brahms String Quartets

All Foghorn Reviews


All HDTT reviews


Songs to Harp from
the Old and New World


all Nimbus reviews



all tudor reviews


Follow us on Twitter


Editorial Board
MusicWeb International
Founding Editor
   
Rob Barnett
Editor in Chief
John Quinn
Contributing Editor
Ralph Moore
Webmaster
   David Barker
Postmaster
Jonathan Woolf
MusicWeb Founder
   Len Mullenger

REVIEW
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Plain text for smartphones & printers


Advertising on
Musicweb


Donate and keep us afloat

 

New Releases

Naxos Classical
All Naxos reviews

Chandos recordings
All Chandos reviews

Hyperion recordings
All Hyperion reviews

Foghorn recordings
All Foghorn reviews

Troubadisc recordings
All Troubadisc reviews



all Bridge reviews


all cpo reviews

Divine Art recordings
Click to see New Releases
Get 10% off using code musicweb10
All Divine Art reviews


All Eloquence reviews

Lyrita recordings
All Lyrita Reviews

 

Wyastone New Releases
Obtain 10% discount

Subscribe to our free weekly review listing

 


Support us financially by purchasing this from
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
Die Schöpfung (The Creation) Hob. XXI:2 [101:17]
Camilla Tilling (soprano); Mark Padmore (tenor); Hanno Müller-Brachmann (bass-baritone)
Chorus and Orchestra of Bavarian Radio/Bernard Haitink
rec. Herkulesaal der Residenz, Munich, 2013
German text and English translation included
BR KLASSIK 900125 [37:46 + 63:32]

What might a cynical critic expect from a performance from a conductor in his eighties with a distinguished career but who is better known for the musical insight of his performances than for their physical excitement? Not what is found here, for sure. This is a performance full of energy, showing a clear awareness of historically informed performance practice, but also with an abundance of good humour and good sense.

Right from the start in the Representation of Chaos Haitink’s ability to clarify orchestral textures and to ensure that instrumental lines are phrased in a positive manner is apparent. Drama is at the forefront. Speeds may not be always quite as brisk as some find necessary but this is very much to the benefit of the music and in particular of Haydn’s many subtle details. The music is neither bullied nor loved to excess. Both orchestra and chorus excel. The soloists, although adequate, are not on the same level of achievement but are not a serious demerit of the set.

With a conductor of such experience and ability in balancing the orchestra the engineers’ task must be a pleasure, and certainly the results achieved here do justice to the performance. So too does the presentation, with a useful essay by Vera Bauer, the complete text and an English translation.
 
The Creation is one of the most life-affirming works in the repertoire, and one which has had many fine recordings in the past. This, however, is special even within that distinguished company. It manages to combine the virtues of old and new performance traditions and in capturing the essence of Haydn’s wonderfully humane creation. I have no hesitation in saying that this is by some way the most satisfying recorded performance of the work I have heard.
 
John Sheppard

Previous review: Michael Cookson