Joseph Haydn - Wiener Singverein, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan ‎– Die Schöpfung · The Creation · La Création

A fantastically dynamic and tonally pure recording. There's a decent sense of body, but also a big and clean acoustic space with good soundstage height, characteristic of the church in which this was recorded. A real gem from this period of DG productions. Karajan has been accused of being "too smooth" in this period of his conducting, and his productions with the Berliner Philharmonic in baroque music dubbed "inauthentic". Who cares? I, for one, love these recordings which may not be made on authentic instruments, but of course the BPO is one helluva band, and the soloists: just look at the list on this record - it simply does not get any better than this collection of singers. I would much rather have incredible voices such as these than a spindly kid, no matter how pure and authentic the casting may be (I hyperbolise to make the point). It should go without saying that the maestro shapes each line with such sensuous sensitivity that the apprehension of spiritual beauty is not lost on the listener. If you like this, there is also a great "Matthew's Passion", Verdi "Requiem" and Beethoven "Missa Solemnis" by the same forces that are must-hears, also with good recording and fabulous singers. Highly highly recommended.