The Miami Herald Reviews Our Performance of "The Creation"

From http://www.miamiherald.com/234/story/303128.html

Among the acknowledged great composers, few today are as underperformed as Franz Joseph Haydn. Perhaps his optimism, tunefulness and approachability----and a vast legacy that encompasses 104 symphonies and 68 string quartets alone----paradoxically make contemporary musicians suspicious in an era that prefers postmodern angst and complexity.

The Austrian composer's genius was richly evident Friday night as Helmuth Rilling led Frost School of Music forces in Haydn's choral masterwork, The Creation, to close Festival Miami at Gusman Concert Hall.

Written late in his career, The Creation was Haydn's first oratorio, crafted on a vast scale for four soloists, chorus and orchestra. Depicting nothing less than the creation of the earth, the work is imbued with the composer's deep religious feeling, with music that remains startling in its originality and variety: the dissonant harmonic churning of the opening depiction of chaos, musical onomatopoeia painting natural phenomena, soaring solo arias and the noble grandeur of its heaven-storming choruses.

It was quite a coup for the Frost School of Music to engage Rilling, a celebrated interpreter of Bach and the German choral repertoire, for these performances. Using small string sections, the German conductor achieved striking transparency between soloists, chorus and orchestra even in the most cataclysmic moments. Rilling's clear unfussy style drew lithe rhythmic buoyancy and, a few passing ensemble slips apart, polished and responsive playing from the Frost Symphony Orchestra.

Adding to the success of the evening was a superb trio of soloists. Helen Donath recorded many of the great German choral works early in her career and her impeccable German and ease in this repertoire were evident. The more florid coloratura passages were cautiously negotiated, but at 67, Donath's soprano retains much of its purity and her vibrant singing was consistently engaging, delightfully so in Eve's arias.

Her male colleagues were equally impressive. Bass Nathan Berg intoned the music of Raphael and Adam with dark authority. Lothar Odinius gave a virtual seminar in oratorio style, the gifted German tenor singing with lustrous tone, supple phrasing and natural ease of production.

Crowning the evening was the magnificent contribution of the student singers of the Frost Chorale and Collegium Musicum with some local professionals rounding out the large chorus. Scrupulously prepared by Jo-Michael Scheibe, the choral singing conveyed all the mystery, fervor, majesty and power of Haydn's vision with gleaming tone, vivid articulation and resounding impact. Haydn's The Creation will be repeated at Festival Miami at 8 p.m. Saturday at Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Drive, Coral Gables. Tickets: $15-$60; 305-284-4940.

Lawrence A. Johnson is The Miami Herald's classical music critic.