Search - Franz Joseph Haydn, Rafael Kubelik, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra :: Haydn: The Creation

An overlooked (but overpriced) gem, a delight!

RENS | Dover, NH USA | 09/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Rafael Kubelik conducted his beloved Chorus and Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio in this performance of Haydn's The Creation (sung in German) in June of 1984. The interpretation, the orchestral playing, and the singing, both solo and choral, cannot be faulted. The recording engineers, however, can be faulted for not having better caught the precise singing of the chorus: the sound is full and rich but not clear. On the other hand, the sound of the orchestra reveals the exquisite details Haydn included in this late masterpiece. The soloists are well matched and like Kubelik reveal in the performance that they love the score and have lived into it. I would give this 5 stars if the choral sound were a bit clearer and the price somewhat lower. However, this is Amazon.com, and you will find discounted new copies and low priced used copies from time to time. You may want to check out Eugen Jochum's excellent studio recording of The Creation with the same chorus and orchestra and with different soloists on a Philips Duo coupled with two Haydn Masses. The sound is clearer and the performance just as carefully prepared and lovingly presented as Kubelik's. And the price is much lower. Two other excellent recordings seek to provide a period, 18th century sound. Both are superb. Look for John Eliot Gardiner's version on DG (in German) and Christopher Hogwood's version on DECCA (in English). I own all four and wouldn't be without any one of them. If you're having only one, you'd better listen to samples of each before you buy."