OBSERVER: The Creation
Mention the name Haydn to a lover of classical music and they are likely to smile and sigh with happiness.
Haydn was equally adept at creating instrumental and choral masterpieces, and one of his greatest pieces of music is the oratorio The Creation, which is being performed by Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra and soloists on Saturday, June 14.
The fine soloists include soprano Rachelle Durkin (pictured), whose previous work includes singing for Opera Australia and the Metropolitan Opera.
Japanese-Australian mezzo-soprano Syrah Torii (Victorian Opera), baritone Christopher Richardson (Opera Australia and Pinchgut Opera) and tenor Michael Petruccelli (Oper Frankfurt and Opera Australia).
The RMP choir, Melbourne University Choral Society, an orchestra of 50 plus forte pianist Stefan Cassomenos complete the musical forces, all conducted by RMP chief conductor Andrew Wailes.
While The Creation is one of the most successful choral works in Western musical history, composer Haydn was a modest genius.
At one performance of The Creation where spontaneous applause kept breaking out, he insisted that the music was ‘not from me: everything is from up there!’ as he pointed to the sky, which makes St Paul’s Cathedral an ideal place to enjoy this beautiful work.
Melbourne audiences can share in the musical magic that is The Creation in St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday, June 14, at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are available from rmp.org.au
Julie Houghton

