Review

Haydn’s Creation,
with the Edgecumbe Choir
Church of St George & St John

ON Sunday, September 8, The Edgecumbe Choir performed Haydn’s Creation, conducted by Chalium Poppy, in the Church of St George and St John, which has excellent acoustics.

It was stunning.

The first resounding bar, evoking boundless loneliness, darkness and chaos, is positively breathtaking. This was the beginning of a brilliant performance by organist Douglas Mews.

The story is well known but there are sublime highpoints: the unforgettable exaltation “and there was light”; the soft hushed tones of Uriel (one of the Archangels) as he describes the first moonlight.

The soloists were exemplary. Professional all, they were a joy to listen to, with plenty of volume befitting this monumental work.

Soprano Elizabeth Mandeno attained the highest of notes, seemingly without effort; Jeandre Le Roux, a tenor, gave his usual sterling performance and baritone Edward Smith delighted with his rich voice and clear diction.

The Choir: I have heard it perform many times but never better than that Sunday afternoon. It sang seamlessly and blended beautifully.

There seems to be some form of symbiosis between the members and musical director Chalium Poppy – he certainly brings out the best in them.

If you cannot believe the song, the performance by these singers make you wish you could.

– Ken Watts