Choral Society Hails Haydn

The music evokes the sun, moon, seas, plants, animals, and humans with some of the most experimental music of its time

Jun. 25, 2015

Star Staff

Franz Joseph Haydn’s “The Creation,” considered by many to be his masterpiece, will be performed on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Parish Hall of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in East Hampton by the Choral Society of the Hamptons. The gorup will be joined by the Greenwich Village Chamber Singers, the South Fork Chamber Orchestra, and four soloists — Alison Davy, soprano, Nils Neubert, tenor, Dominic Inferrara, baritone, and Enrico Lagasca, bass. Mark Mangini, the choral society’s music director, will conduct.

With the exception of Handel’s “Messiah,” “The Creation” is the most frequently performed oratorio. The work is Haydn’s musical representation of the creation of the world as described in the Book of Genesis and Milton’s “Paradise Lost.”

The music evokes the sun, moon, seas, plants, animals, and humans with some of the most experimental music of its time. Influenced by Handel’s oratorios, which he heard when visiting England, Haydn conceived “The Creation” in both English and German. The choral society will perform a traditional English version with small changes to modernize the language.

Immediately following the concert, the choral society will host a benefit dinner at Osteria Salina in Wainscott with wines by Channing Daughters Winery. Today is the deadline for dinner reservations, which cost $300 and include preferred seating at the concert. Tickets are available at choralsocietyofthehamptons.org.

The choral society is an auditioned chorus with a professional music director, soloists, orchestra, and accompanist that has been presenting high-quality choral music on the East End since 1946. The South Fork Chamber Orchestra consists of musicians from Long Island and New York City.

The Greenwich Village Chamber Singers are a mixed chorus of approximately 40 voices that attracts members from throughout the New York metropolitan area. Led by Mr. Mangini, its music director, it performs secular and sacred choral music of all periods.

Tickets to “The Creation” cost $30 in advance, $35 at the door, with tickets for youth priced at $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Preferred seating tickets cost $75. Tickets and information can be found at the choral society’s website.