Sun Hae Im, Jan Kobow, Hanno Müller-Brachmann, VokalEnsemble Köln, Capella Augustina, Andreas Spering - Haydn: Schöpfung (Die) (The Creation) (2005) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

CD1
01. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.1: Die Vorstellung des Chaos (the Representation of Chaos)
02. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I: Im Anfange schuf Gott Himmel und Erde (Raphael, Uriel, Chorus) [In the beginning God created Heaven and Earth]
03. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.2: Nun schwanden vor dem heiligen Strahle (Now vanish before the holy beams) [Uriel, Chorus]
04. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.3: Und Gott machte das Firmament (and God made the firmament) [Raphael]
05. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.4: Mit Staunen sieht das Wunderwerk [the marv'lous work beholds amaz'd [Gabriel]
06. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.5: Und Gott sprach: Es sammle sich das Wasser (and God said: Let the waters under the heaven) [Raphael]
07. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.6: Rollend in schaumenden Wellen (Rolling in foaming billows) [Raphael]
08. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.7: Und Gott sprach: Es bringe die Erde Gras hervor (and God said: Let all the earth bring forth grass) [Gabriel]
09. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.8: Nun beut dir Flur das frische Grun (With verdure clad the fields appear) [Gabriel]
10. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.9: Und die himmlischen Heerscharen (Uriel) [and the Heav'nly host proclaimed the third day]
11. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.10: Stimmt an die Saiten (Awake the harp) [Chorus]
12. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.11: Und Gott sprach: Es seien Lichter an der Feste des Himmels (and God said: Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven)
13. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.12: In vollem Glanze steiget jetzt die Sonne (In splendour bright Is rising now the sun) [Uriel]
14. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. I, No.13: Die Himmel erzahlen die Ehre Gottes (the heavens Are telling the glory of God) [Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, Chorus]
15. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. II, No.14: Und Gott sprach: Es bringe das Wasser in der Fulle hervor (and God said: Let the waters bring forth abundantly) [Gabriel]
16. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. II, No.15: Auf starkem Fittiche schwinget sich der Adler stolz (Gabriel) [On mighty pens uplifted soars the eagle aloft]
17. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. II, No.16: Und Gott schuf grosse Walfische (Raphael) [and God created great whales]
18. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. II, No.17: Und die Engel ruhrten ihre unsterblichen Harfen (and the angels struck their immortal harps) [Raphael]
19. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. II, nos.18-19: In holder Anmut stehn (Most beautiful appear) [Trio] / Der Herr ist gross [the Lord Is great] [Trio and Chorus]

CD2
01. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. II, No.20: Und Gott sprach: Es bringe die Erde hervor lebende Geschopfe (and God said: Let the earth bring forth the living creature)
02. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. II, No.21: Gleich offnet sich der Erde Schoss (Straight opening her fertile womb) [Raphael]
03. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. II, No.22: Nun scheint in vollem Glanze der Himmel (Now heav'n in fullest glory shone) [Raphael]
04. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. II, No.23: Und Gott schuf den Menschen nach seinem Ebenbilde (Uriel) [and God created man in his own image]
05. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. II, No.24: Mit Wurd' und Hoheit angetan (In native worth and honour clad) [Uriel]
06. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. II, No.25: Und Gott sah jedes Ding, was er gemacht hatte (and God saw ev'rything That he had made) [Raphael]
07. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. II, nos.26-28: Vollendet ist das grosse Werk (Chorus) / Zu dir, o Herr, blickt alles auf [Trio] / Vollendet ist das grosse Werk
08. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. III, No. 29: Aus Rosenwolken (In rosy mantle appears) [Uriel]
09. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. III, No.30: Von deiner Gut', o Herr und Gott (By thee with bliss, O bounteous Lord) [Eve and Adam, Chorus]
10. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. III, No.31: Nun ist die erste Pflicht erfullt (Adam and Eve) [Our duty we performed now]
11. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. III, No.32: Holde Gattin! (Graceful consort!) [Adam and Eve]
12. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. III, No.33: O glucklich Paar (O happy pair) [Uriel]
13. The Creation, Hob. XXI:2: Pt. III, No.34: Singt dem Herren alle Stimmen (Sing the Lord, ye voices all!)


Recorded in Cologne in July 2003 by German Radio, this issue offers a first-rate period performance of Haydn's masterpiece, lively and well sung. Since other issues of Die Schöpfung in the super-budget category use modern instruments it fills an important gap, particularly as the digital sound is so clear and transparent.
Andreas Spering successfully brings out the composer's eternal freshness.
The prelude representing Chaos is taken slowly, markedly more so than by Gardiner or Brüggen, but that brings out all the more the abrasiveness of Haydn's daring dissonances.
After the extreme hush of that opening the choral cry of 'Licht' is shattering in its impact; in the following tenor aria Spering shows his true colours in a crisp, faster-than-usual Andante that's exhilaratingly carefree, not least at the felicitous passage, marked sotto voce, when the chorus sings of 'eine neue Welt'. His speeds are generally on the fast side, but when, as in the prelude, the marking is Largo as opposed to Andante or Adagio, he takes a measured view.
The Cologne Vocal Ensemble is a relatively compact body, incisive in its attack, and set in a helpful but not over-large acoustic. The three soloists are all excellent and youthful-sounding.
An outstanding bargain.

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac]

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [Hi-Res]