|
| Haydn: Die Schoepfung (The Creation) | 
 enlarge | Creators: Hanno Muller-brachmann, Franz Joseph Haydn, Andreas Spering, Capella Augustina, Sunhae Im, Jan Kobow
Label: Naxos
Category: Music
List Price: $17.99
Buy New: $10.58
You Save: $7.41 (41%)
New (13) Used (5) from $10.58
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 181114
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 747313238026
EAN: 0747313238026
ASIN: B0007XHKZI
Release Date: April 19, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new Item. CD, DVD, Book, VHS more than 400 000 titles to choose from. ALL days Low Price !
|
| Tracks:
Disc 1
| • | Part 1. No. 1. Die Vorstellung des Chaos | | • | Part 1. Recitative. Im Anfange schuf Gott Himmel und Erde | | • | Part 1. No. 2. Aria and Chorus. Nun schwanden vor dem heiligen Strahle | | • | Part 1. No. 3. Recitative. Und Gott machte das Firmament | | • | Part 1. No. 4. Solo with Chorus. Mit Staunen sieht das Wunderwerk | | • | Part 1. No. 5. Recitative. Und Gott sprach: Es sammle sich das Wasser | | • | Part 1. No. 6. Aria. Rollend in schaeumenden Wellen | | • | Part 1. No. 7. Recitative. Und Gott sprach: Es bringe die Erde Gras hervor | | • | Part 1. No. 8. Aria. Nun beut die Flur das frische Gruen | | • | Part 1. No. 9. Recitative. Und die himmlischen Heerscharen | | • | Part 1. No. 10. Chorus. Stimmt an die Saiten | | • | Part 1. No. 11. Recitative. Es seien Lichter an der Feste des Himmels | | • | Part 1. No. 12. Recitative. In vollem Glanze steiget jetzt die Sonne | | • | Part 1. No. 13. Soloists and Chorus. Die Himmel erzaehlen die Ehre Gottes | | • | Part 2. No. 14. Recitative. Und Gott sprach: Es bringe das Wasser in der Fuelle hervor | | • | Part 2. No. 15. Aria. Auf starkem Fittiche schwinget sich der Adler stolz | | • | Part 2. No. 16. Recitative. Und Gott schuf grosse Walfische | | • | Part 2. No. 17. Recitative. Und die Engel ruehrten ihre unsterblichen Harfen | | • | Part 2. No. 18. Soloists. In holder Anmut stehn / No. 19. Trio and Chorus. Der Herr ist gross |
Disc 2
| • | Part 2. No. 20. Recitative. Und Gott spracht: es bringe die Erde hervor lebende Geschoepfe | | • | Part 2. No. 21. Recitative. Gleich oeffnet sich der Erde Schoss | | • | Part 2. No. 22. Aria. Nun scheint in vollem Glanze der Himmel | | • | Part 2. No. 23. Recitative. Und Gott schuf den Menschen nach seinem Ebenbilde | | • | Part 2. No. 24. Aria. Mit Wuerd' und Hoheit angetan | | • | Part 2. No. 25. Recitative. Und Gott sah jedes Ding, was er gemacht hatte | | • | Part 2. No. 26. Chorus. Vollendet ist das grosse Werk / No. 27. Trio. Zu dir, o Herr, blickt alles a | | • | Part 3. No. 29. Recitative. Aus Resenwolken | | • | Part 3. No. 30. Duet with Chorus. Von deiner Guet', o Herr und Gott | | • | Part 3. No. 32. Duet. Holde Gattin! | | • | Part 3. No. 33. Recitative. O gluecklich Paar | | • | Part 3. No. 34. Chorus and Soloists. Singt dem Herren alle Stimmen |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
Haydn's "Creation" on Naxos May 24, 2005
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
Haydn's oratorio, "The Creation" is his greatest work and a masterpiece of music indeed. It receives an incandescent, inspiring performance in this recent release on Naxos - that would be a must have at any price -- by the VocalEnsembleKoln and the Capella Augustana conducted by Andreas Spering.
Haydn composed "The Creation" between 1796 and 1798 following his two trips to London. During his second trip to London, Haydn heard performances of Handel oratorios in Westminister Abbey, and became greatly interested in revitalizing the form. By this time, Haydn's entire symphonic output was behind him.
The work was first performed in Vienna in 1799. There are two texts, in German and in English, each regarded as equally authentic. The performance on this CD is in German. The work, simply enough, consists of three parts and tells the story of the Biblical six days of creation through the creation of Adam and Eve. The work includes three extensive solo parts for the angels Raphael (bass), Gabriel (tenor) and Uriel (soprano) with the bass and soprano doing double-duty in Part III as Adam and Eve.
In discussing "The Creation", Haydn reportedly told a biographer that "since God has given me a cheerful heart, it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit." This remark captures much, but not all, of "The Creation" and of Haydn's music. Haydn's good cheer comes through in the work in the many tone-pictures he creates of the birds, and animals and works of Creation. Larks, eagles, nightingales, lions, tigers, whales, brooks, and much else are orchestrally portrayed as accompaniment to some wonderful arias and recitives. But the work is deeply inspiring and serious, particularly in the rousing choruses such as "The heavens are telling the glory of God" which concludes Part I, and the equally jubiliant finales for Parts II and III.
One of the greatest moments of the work is the orchestral introduction which is Haydn's musical representation of chaos. This section is strikingly modernistic. It develops a great deal of tension and works through a number of keys as it sets the stage for the angel Rahpael to proclaim "Let there be Light" Haydn also expanded the form of the oratorio in this work by combining passages for the chorus and the soloists in a single aria -- which Handel never did. The effect is expansive and symphonic. There is a beautiful long duet for Adam and Eve near the conclusion of the work (no. 32) witnessing their joy in life and their new-found love for each other.
The performers on this CD are splendid throughout. I particularly enjoyed the choruses and the lovely, light voice of soprano Sunhae Im. Tenor Jan Kobow and bass Hanno Muller-Brachmann also sing beautifully.
The disc does not include a libretto, but it does have a detailed synopsis and the full text is available on the Naxos website. This is one of the most enjoyable CDs I have heard in a long while. It is a near-ideal performance of Haydn at his greatest.
A wonderful new soprano, and a brilliant recording March 30, 2006
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
Run, don't walk!
Persuaded by Steve Schwartz's review (on ClassM-L) of the recording of Haydn's Creation on Naxos [Soprano: Sunhae Im, Tenor: Jan Kobow, Bass: Hanno Muller-Brachmann, Vocalensemble Koeln / Capella Augustina / Andreas Spering], I sent away for it, and it arrived yesterday.
Well!
Honestly, I have heard very few really bad recordings of the Creation; it seems to inspire everyone to do outdo themselves. Still, this recording has lots to set it apart from others that are merely excellent. To my ears, it is the soloists who really clinch the quality of any recording of the Creation. In this recording, the solists are impossible to find fault with, and the soprano is brilliant.
The Soprano, Sunhae Im, has a light, confident voice that is perfect for the role, rhapsodic, worshipful, joyous or playful as the piece demands, powerful but never quite shrill. I was about to give the opinion that Ms Im should soon earn a major reputation in this repertoire, but she already has (she has performed with Hogwood, Chailly and Blomstedt).
The Bass and Tenor, Messrs Muller-Brachmann and Kabow, do admirably, but I must confess that in this work I have never really noticed the other solo voices. The bass does a gorgeous job with the Great Whales, and the tenor has a beautifully expressive voice that has just the right balance of pride and delight, as he narrates how the process of creation unfolds. Ms Im did not dominate in any way; quite the opposite. The ensemble pieces--and there are several brilliant ones--are perfectly balanced. Nobody tries to outyell anyone else.
As mentioned in Steve Schwartz's review, the orchestra and even the chorus, do not shrink from making sounds that would have been considered somewhat harsh a decade ago. This only adds to the overall effect; unfortunately, if you want to listen to the recording at your workplace you must have lightning-fast fingers on the volume control, because not only is the dynamic range quite wide, there are abrupt volume changes, e.g. "and there was LIGHT!" Oh mama!
Wonderful tone, attack and phrasing. This Spering must be taken notice of.
Summary: an excellent buy, and if you like The Creation, a must-have.
Now I must go back and try to listen a little more carefully to the contralto, Christine Weir, who apparently only appears in No. 34, the last number. Talk among yourselves.
Santu de Silva (Archimedes)
price: low end - quality: highest end February 19, 2006
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I have several recordings of this work (all of the German version), including Karajan and Bernstein, both of which I like. I also participated in performances myself (violin). This recording on period instruments is top notch, the soloists are very good. First time I heard the introduction (Das Chaos) I was blown away, this is indeed the most intense "Chaos" I know, the choir "enters" in the most beautiful pianissimo I ever heard and when it finally "becomes light" ("Es werde Licht") the effect is breathtaking. A lot of the full price recordings won't reach the quality presented here - for this price. Excellent clear recording as well! Can't go wrong here.
All sunlight and smiles--a Creation that ranks among the best May 16, 2006
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Maxos has become a byword in good-enough performances of masterpieces, but this Cologne-based 'Creation' is a wonderful exception. Everything about it is first-rate, and most surprising of all, the period approach yields real freshness and vibrancy--this must be the sunniest "Creation" on disc. There's not a hint of Gardiner's brash amateurishness or Harnoncourt's weird sonorities. Spering's orchestra and chorus perform with infectious joy throughout.
Better still, the vocal soloists, usually the weak link in historical performances, are excellent. The sparkling Korean soprano Sunhae Im reminds me of a young Barbara Bonney, her only failing being that she can sound a bit mechanical at times. Jan Kobow has the light timbre of most period tenors--he is cut out to be a fine Evangelist in the Bach Passions--but uses his instrument with real style, and baritone Hanno Muller-Brachmann, my favorite in the group, is bright and forward, very different from the cavernous basses one hears too often. All in all, a delightful find, especially for those of us who keep grumbling about the lack of musicality in period recordings of great Classical works.
From Chaos to Divine Order May 11, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
After the completion of the last of his symphonies - the 104th - Haydn turned his creative energies to a series of masterful chorale works including his wonderful conception of the Creation. Drawn from three sources; Genesis, the Book of Psalms and Milton's 'Paradise Lost', the libretto was originally published in both English and German. It is the German version (Die Schopfung) that is recorded in this remarkable performance.
It seems Haydn was immensely impressed with the oratorios of Handel, some of which he had heard at a Handel festival during one of his visits to London.
The Creation is a significant development on the Handel oratorio, particularly how the moods of the text are so dramatically projected, almost operatic. Haydn's use of orchestral colouring is highly inventive. The opening 'Representation of Chaos' is a fine example and Sperling and his forces load the episode with gravitas and foreboding.
The performance continues to exhibit an admirable alertness to the unfolding drama of the work. I had a strong feeling that I was hearing Haydn's Creation without, the sometimes, overbearing influence of some conductors or other luminaries.
The orchestra is splendidly responsive to Sperling's imaginative direction, supported by a chorus which is able to project both power and refinement.
The youthful sounding soloists are most appealing and have the technique to prevail against the great eruptions from chorus and orchestra.
This recording has nothing to fear from comparison with Gardiner's or Kuijken's more lyrical approach, while Karajan's, 'big band' approach is something special, it will be to Sperling's that I will more frequently turn.
It is interesting to note that one of Napoleon's first acts as he marched into Vienna was to place a guard of honour around Haydn's house. Fascinating too, that one of the last pieces of music that Haydn heard was the famous tenor aria from The Creation; 'Mit Wurd und Hoheit ungetan' - 'In native worth and honour clad'.
All in all, only an urgent recommendation will suffice.
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
