Haydn The Creation

“This release comprises one of the most impressive feats of engineering that I have ever encountered. From its timbral accuracy to its extraordinary dynamic range it comes closer to in-hall reality than any other recording of The Creation I’ve heard. Never has the chorus sounded so well focused, its words clearly discernible…so powerful is the sonic impact throughout the production, even a whispered piano, soft as it is, seems physically palpable… Under McCreesh the choral textures are more clearly focused, the orchestral choirs more cleanly delineated, features as much a credit to the conductor as to the engineering. Of course the performance is the prime issue… McCreesh’s pacing for this passage is considerably slower than that of other conductors. The effect is stunning, providing greater clarification of the chromatic richness and daring of the entire section.”International Record Review

“It boasts exceptional clarity and power. Sonically, it is as realistic a recording of a group this size as any I have heard, the clarity of the English in choral passages being extraordinary. For anyone seeking a period-instrument version, this well-paced, dramatic account superbly led by Paul McCreesh may prove a preferred edition.”Fanfare