Bexhill Choral Society

St Augustine’s, Bexhill, 8 October 2016

There are few works that convey such a glorious sense of joy as Haydn’s Creation and Bexhill Choral Society’s singing last night certainly lived up to it in the enthusiasm and quality of their performance. In many ways the reduced orchestral forces added an extra clarity to the score, so that the scene painting became even clearer. Haydn’s depiction of the forces of nature, the storms, rivers, tinkling brooks and the panoply of the stars were all there. If anything they were too good and the roaring lion managed to sweep away Ken Roberts score and stand, not that this affected the narrative, such is the professionalism of all concerned.

The chorus proved to be well balanced and able to give full force to Haydn’s moments of greatest enthusiasm. The Heavens are Telling and Awake the Harp had a gutsy intensity in contrast to the gentler moments, though Haydn has little here of real introspection. The text reveals a delight in creation in all its romantic glory, the fall being dismissed in a single sentence before the final chorus unites everyone in happy praise.

The three soloists may be very familiar to us but were nevertheless rightly in angelic voice. Sophie Pullen’s voice seems even more radiant now than on earlier occasions and the top of the voice carried easily over the combined forces around her. Peter Grevatt brought a keen sense of humour to the narrative, descending playfully with the sinuous worm. Gary Marriott’s arch-angel was heroic and warm throughout.

Solo instrumentalists were note-worthy with some lovely bassoon passages very evident, and the woodwind for the birds. Robert Aldwinckle’s improvisations at the harpsichord added an immediacy to the recitatives, as did the occasional ornamentation from the soloists.

This was the third Creation I have heard this year and by far the most enjoyable.

The Christmas Concert at St Augustine’s is on Saturday 10 December but if you can’t wait until then there is a Come & Join Us for a Hallelujah Morning on 5 November at Springfield Road Methodist.

Details www.bexhillchoral.org.uk