Review: York Musical Society ***

No “Big Bang” theory in York Musical Society’s view of Haydn’s The Creation, just a gentle and unhurried beginning that had time to look around, the composer’s daring dissonances smoothed over.

It was a view that well suited the light and lyric tenor of David Webb, his picture of the sun gleaming rather than dazzling as his beautifully focused vocal projection became swallowed up in the Minster’s cavernous acoustic.

By contrast the soprano, Julie Kennard, and bass, Michael George, carried that weight as they moved from their opening roles as Gabriel and Raphael to the visually difficult transition to Adam and Eve in the work’s final section.

Having required their input in the big opening, Haydn had to find something for his chorus to do in the remainder, and apart from “The heavens are telling”, that closes the first part, and the big final chorus, it was not his most inspired creation.

But the York singers, joined by members of the Minster choir, certainly enjoyed themselves, their total commitment to their new conductor, Robert Sharp, evident throughout.

Probably not overly familiar with the score, the society’s orchestra gave solid support, though for unanimity I guess they would have welcomed a baton in Sharp’s hands.