Haydn: The Creation (with dance)
Scherzo Ensemble, Orpheus Sinfonia
Matthew O’Keeffe, conductor
Winchester College New Hall, 6th April 2024

Under their artistic director and conductor Matthew O’Keeffe and producer and general manager Stephanie Waldron, the Scherzo Ensemble (a charity since 2021) and their associated Longhope Opera provide training and development opportunities for emerging singers, including (commendably, paid) performances. One such was this imaginative realisation of Haydn’s oratorio, The Creation, in Winchester College’s New Hall (repeated the following day in St John’s, Smith Square). It was promoted as “a unique classical experience . . . where music seamlessly intertwines with dance, costume, and lighting, breathing new life into this timeless masterpiece . . . engaging the singers and instrumentalists in a captivating synergy of movement and sound alongside the dancers”. The performance showcased the emerging artists as soloists, choir, and dancers, together with the Orpheus Sinfonia chamber orchestra.

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