Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This 1982 performance of 'Die Schöpfung' ('The Creation') constituted the high point of a Viennese festival celebrating the 250th anniversary of Haydn's birth. It took place in the Old Hall of the University, where, on 27th March 1808, the composer had appeared for the last time in public to attend a gala performance of this work under the direction of Antonio Salieri. Gustav Kuhn who conducts this 1982 performance took what was then an unusual step in using a reduced chorus of 38 singers from the Arnold Schoenberg Choir and an orchestra much closer in size to what would have been typical of Haydn's day rather than the 19th century massed choir and orchestra approach, which can add a certain grandeur but which can also drive out Haydn's subtleties in the pomp. This is a fine performance with the music coming to the fore rather than the soloists taking over. It is live and there are points where a second take may have been used in a studio but nothing that detracts from our enjoyment. We are in Austria and the singing is of course in German although subtitles are provided. There is also an introductory documentary that sets 'The Creation' into its context, again with subtitles but there are no other extras.