First and foremost, I am no music critic, but the Bude Choral Society’s presentation of Haydn’s The Creation last night at the Methodist Church in the town was joyful, moving and uplifting. It brought a real tingle to my senses.
The dramatic oratorio, The Creation, was composed in Vienna between 1797-8 by Joseph Haydn, and depicts/celebrates the creation of the world as written in Genesis. It is said to have been inspired by two of Handel’s works: Messiah and Israel in Egypt, but then developed by Haydn, who apparently was Mozart’s mentor and taught Beethoven.
What an utter treat for Bude to be able to access music of this calibre.
Written in three parts, part 1 represents the chaos and disorder that preceded the Creation. The six days of creation fill some of the first and all of the second part, with each day introduced by the Archangels Raphael (bass) Uriel (tenor) and Raphael (soprano). Then, part 3 is the happy union of Adam and Eve.
The singing from Elinor Chapman (soprano), Gordon Pike (tenor) and Julian Rippon (bass) was superb. Instrumentalists were the Divertimento Ensemble which brings wonderful classical music to far flung places (like Bude) and they performed with aplomb. The Bude Choral Society has a host of members within its choir; again, a superb performance from them.
Massive appreciation to Musical Director and Conductor, John Hobbs, who did an incredible job of bringing quite a large orchestra and choir together harmoniously.
If anyone wants to write a musically-adept review, please do. Suffice to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it – and the church was warm, too! Bonus.