Left - Conductor Richard EgarrThe 2011 Perth International Arts Festival has spoilt Perth classical music lovers. On Tuesday night a full Perth Concert Hall was treated to a superb performance of Joseph Haydn’s The Creation. Performed by England’s Academy of Ancient Music orchestra with soloists (Sara Macliver, Timothy Robinson, and Peter Harvey) and the brilliant St Georges Cathedral Consort Choir, the performance was a moving, passionate, and joyous occasion.
Established in the 1970’s by Christopher Hogwood, the Academy of Ancient Music (AAM) performs Baroque and Classical Music in the style in which it would originally have been heard. The Cambridge based ensemble are world renown; over thirty years they have recorded an impressive 250 discs, as well as performing on every continent (except Antarctica according to the program).
These are skilled players. They play with instruments from the Baroque era; the violins have animal gut strings rather than steel, the trumpets and trombones have no valves, and the timpani player retunes his drums to another note as he sits and waits for his next section. The horn players were fascinating to observe, with their rows of crooks (varied length sections of tubing) hanging off their music stands waiting to be used to change the pitch.
Conductor Richard Egarr succeeded Hogwood as the leader of AAM in 2006. A leading specialist in early music and a talented harpsichordist, he was an energetic conductor of Haydn’s Creation. One of the oddest, yet most enlightening moments was watching Egarr playing the harpsichord straddled over the seat (all the more ease to jump up and start conducting again), and realizing his bopping and nodding was not merely energy, but his way of conducting the orchestra without using his hands!
The Creation is an Oratorio for solo voices, choir and orchestra. It was written late in Haydn’s life (he finished it in 1798 at aged 66), but it is full of vitality and happiness. It is a remarkable piece, and I felt that the AAM, St Georges Consort and Soloists definitely did the piece justice.
Soprano Sara Macliver was, as always, spectacular. Apart from a crisp, crystal clear voice, Macliver is mesmerizing to watch as she embodies the songs. Of particular note were the duets with Bass Peter Harvey as they portrayed Adam and Eve in the later half of the piece.
Harvey successfully injected moments of humour into his recitative about nature, accompanied by glorious natural sounds from the orchestra. It took Tenor Timothy Robinson his first recitative and aria to settle into the performance, but his voice was rich and fulsome from thereon in.
The three parts (orchestra, choir and soloists) were brought together by Egarr, although special mention and applause must go to choir master Joseph Nolan. The Consort is a sharp, beautifully harmonic group of talented local musicians, and not surprisingly, received the loudest applause at the end of the concert.
This was a delightful concert performance of a beautiful piece. Perth was treated to a world renowned orchestra and soloists as well as marvelous local talent. A night to savour.
2011 Perth International Arts Festival
The Creation
Academy of Ancient Music
Venue: Perth Concert Hall
Date: Tue 22 Feb 2011
Duration: 2hr including interval
Tickets: $82.50 - $47.50
Bookings: bocsticketing.com.au