The
Gaechinger Cantorey
, unlike some similarly named ensembles, includes not only a choir but an instrumental ensemble as needed. The group is an aspect of the venerable Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart, whose pioneering early music recordings were long led by
Helmuth Rilling
; his successor,
Hans-Christoph Rademann
, directs the group on this recording of
Haydn
's oratorio
Die Schoepfung, Hob. 21/2
. Some historical performance groups find it hard to get away from a Baroque sound in Classical-era music, but
Rademann
avoids this pitfall; if anything, his
Die Schoepfung
leans to the dramatic side. Sample the sharp crescendos and the effective use of penetrating period brass and percussion in the opening "Vorstellung des Chaos" ("Representation of Chaos") movement. The choir, at 36 singers, is a bit undersized for a work that had 180 participants at its premiere performance; conductor
Paul McCreesh
and his
Gabrieli Consort
have shown that it is quite feasible to perform the work as
heard it. However,
draws a rich sound from his choir, and it is nicely integrated with the soloists, a solid all-German group. The sound is also very strong; the environment of a suburban Stuttgart conference center turns out to be of just the right dimensions. Well worth hearing for those who love
's most famous piece of choral music. ~ James Manheim