A defining moment

If I were pressed to sum up Haydn’s The Creation in only four words, those would be “And there was light!” The piece is so full of joy. Here’s a clip from yesterday’s rehearsal, capturing that famous moment at the beginning of the oratorio where the choir bursts forth with this text.

June 25, 2010 | Filed Under Haydn: The Creation, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Rehearsing in the garden of Eden

As the choir quietly entered the studio this afternoon, while the orchestra was still rehearsing, they were greeted with an interesting remark from the conductor - “You’re entering the the garden of Eden.” It wasn’t just a reference to the backdrop of the oratorio they’re preparing this week, Haydn’s The Creation, it’s a reflection of how the maestro is feeling as he’s conducting these fantastic musical forces. He had said as much to me at the outset of the session. He’s thrilled with the music being made here this week. That certainly bodes well for the performance tomorrow.

The rehearsal was held in a studio at a radio station here in Hilversum, and it was filmed as potential bonus footage for the DVD—filmed not by me (thankfully!) but by SDG’s top-notch production partners, Ideale Audience. But I did have opportunity to capture some footage myself, a bit of which included the marvelous voice of tenor Werner Güra. Here are a few clips.

June 25, 2010 | Filed Under Haydn: The Creation | Leave a Comment

Not so fast

Spending an entire day at the airport isn’t the worst thing that ever happened to me, but it’s definitely not the best either. After arriving there I discovered my flight had been canceled and I was re-booked on one leaving five hours later. A serious thunderstorm then delayed it further and I finally took off around 9 p.m., nearly 12 hours after I had arrived. Even so, the day was at least quasi-productive for me, thanks to wifi and the quiet spot on the floor where I got some much-needed rest.

June 24, 2010 | Filed Under Haydn: The Creation | Leave a Comment

Join me on the journey

June 23, 2010 | Filed Under Haydn: The Creation | 3 Comments

Haydn in the Netherlands

What a joy it will be to take in the filming and live broadcast of Haydn’s The Creation next month in the Netherlands! I have a soft spot for great sacred spaces, and from the photos and videos I’ve seen of the Grote Kerk (Great Church) in Naarden, it looks like a truly spectacular setting for this SDG-sponsored production. As this satellite shot reveals, the church sits in the middle of the town of Naarden, which is surrounded by a moat in the shape of a star.

I plan to take lots of pictures and hope to relay here on my blog a bit of the feel of being there, behind the scenes. SDG’s production partners, Ideale Audience and Medici.tv, did such a superb job with the live broadcast of the Beethoven Missa Solemnis in Lisbon earlier this year. I’m delighted to partner with them again on this new production. We live in an amazing time in which beautiful music can be made and beamed online to viewers around the world, with a delay of only a few seconds. It’s stunning, really.

May 17, 2010 | Filed Under Haydn: The Creation, SDG general | Leave a Comment

The viola of love

Have you ever heard the viola d’amore (viola of love)? It has seven strings and covers a wide range of octaves. One of my favorite violinists, Rachel Barton Pine, has taken an interest in this ancient instrument. Read her comments on it here - http://www.stringsmagazine.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=26255 and enjoy a bit of her performance on the viola d’amore in the Youtube video below in which she showcases a Vivaldi concerto. Close your eyes and you might think you’re listening to a violin/viola duet!