Autumn 2006 | Haydn's Creation

Manchester, Barbican Hall (London), and Deutsche Grammophon Recording

Gabrieli’s first project was centered around Haydn's Creation. A week's work on this fantastic score introduced 250 young musicians to the whole world of oratorio, of 'period' performance practice, and much else besides. In addition, a community outreach project called YOUR Creation saw over 200 musicians from the Manchester area and choral singers aged between 8 and 80, participating in an afternoon with the Gabrieli principals, culminating in a session playing extracts led by Paul McCreesh.

A smaller group of 50-odd singers from Chets joined the vast forces of the Gabrielis’ 25th anniversary concert at the Barbican Hall in London, and then proceeded to record the work with Gabrieli, for Deutsche Grammophon. The reviews for this recording, released in 2008, have been exceptional:  “Exciting, moving and wonderfully sung, this big band Creation is a triumph” (Richard Wigmore, Gramophone) – proving Paul McCreesh's passionate belief that given imagination, dedication and passion, young people can so often surpass the self-imposed limitations of professional and amateur, old and young, experienced and inexperienced. The recording went on to win the Gramophone Award in 2008 for Best Choral Recording.

Paul’s inspirational and energetic guidance during his visit in October 2006 conducting Haydn’s The Creation was a triumph with Chets students: his leadership gave them an invaluable opportunity to gain insight, understanding and practical knowledge of how to perform period repertoire, whilst placing the music in an historical context and developing a clear chronology of understanding.
- Chethams School of Music

As a pianist, I wouldn’t normally sing, and there I was being pushed to the limit, surrounded by these professional bass voices.
- Chets student Matthew Hines, on the Barbican performance

We both learnt some valuable skills and the level of motivation and encouragement was an inspiration.
- Phil Steadman, who spent the YOUR Creation day playing Creation with his daughter Geraldine, age 12