Boston Baroque - Haydn Creation - Buffalo News

Haydn got the big things right. He was the master of nobility, dignity, a sense of the sacred. He also had a great sense of humor, as well as an entertainer's humility, a responsibility to his audience.

All these things worked to make "The Creation" the hit that it was. The Boston Baroque tackles the music with unflagging enthusiasm, and the not-too-windy notes explain how the musicians discerned Haydn's wishes as far as tempo and personnel. The big choruses have zest. And there is glory in the details.

One thing neat about "The Creation" is that in many cases the recitatives are as much fun as the arias, and how often can you say that? It is fascinating to hear Haydn - thinking kind of like Wagner would 50 years later - putting into music visual things like the stars sparkling, the sun rising, the heavy, honking beasts of the field.

The soloists are all good, with superb diction so you can understand the German without the texts (although text and translation are included). They are soprano Amanda Forsythe, tenor Keith Jameson, and the very engaging bass baritone Kevin Deas. Deas has sung at Kleinhans, by the way. His commanding voice led off the "Ode to Joy" in Beethoven's Ninth during the season-opening gala of 2009.