David Hill: The Creation in Dresden

HEAVENLY CREATION

Haydn unites musicians from England and Dresden in the Frauenkirche

It is a long time since we have experienced in Dresden a performance of Haydn’s Creation which was so jaunty and light, rhythmically vibrant and vigorous. The renowned Bach Choir, the Dresden Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, three superbly sure-footed soloists and the energetic David Hill, skilfully shaping the voices, were rewarded on Saturday evening with storms of enthusiasm.

Every gesture was apt. David Hill, Musical Director of The Bach Choir since 1998, laid out the original English version of Haydn's oratorio with theatrical vividness, brought excitement to the melodic line and breathed life into the orchestral counterpoint of the Dresden orchestra, which played with rarely heard lightness. The wind playing was wonderfully relaxed, crescendos reached their climax with beautifully developed phrases. The voice groups of the choir were also splendid. With clear leads they were compact in the tutti passages, transparent in the fugal parts, effective in their dynamic shading - every choral movement became a new experience in tonal colour and musical excitement.

You can ‘listen again’ to David Hill conducting The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on BBC Radio 3’s ‘Performance on 3’ here until Monday December 10th 2007.

• Stephen McNeff: Weathers for Chorus and Orchestra (World Premiere)
• Finzi: ’Cello Concerto (Rafael Wallfisch - ’cello)
• Vaughan Williams: Symphony No 2 ‘London’

You can ‘listen again’ to David Hill conducting The BBC Singers on BBC Radio 3’s ‘Pre-Hear’ here until Saturday December 8th 2007.

• Poulenc: Chansons Françaises (nos 1-4)
• Lennox Berkeley: There was neither Grass nor Corn; The Midnight Murk
• Milhaud: Quatrains Valaisans
• Henri Salvador, arr. Roland Chagnon: Tu reviens; Apres nous
• Poulenc: Chansons Françaises (nos 5-8)

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