Creation 2015Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Read more about the opera Creation
The SCO usually perform a demanding choral work at the end of their season, and here we have Haydn's joyful masterpiece. There was inevitably an element of sadness, as the evenings were initially announced to be conducted by Christopher Hogwood, who died last September. Harry Christophers, not previously associated with the orchestra, made an excellent substitute. As we have come to expect from the years of hearing Sir Charles Mackerras in this kind pf repertoire, the modern instruments were played under the influence of period style, while the addition of natural horns made a significant change to the colour. The orchestra's peerless woodwind section also contributed beautifully. Other noteworthy features of the instrumentation included some effective roars on the trombone and delightfully witty highlights from the fortepiano continuo.
An excellent trio of soloists were assembled for this pair of performances, and they did not disappoint. These voices all had the power occasionally required but invariably sang with sweet tone and plenty of subtle inflections. As with the choir, everything was fresh and lively, beautifully phrased, and made the most of the words, which were clearly projected.
