Václav Luks and the OAE deliver creative colour and operatic scale in Haydn's Creation

Nick Pritchard, Václav Luks
& the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
© Mark Allan

Robin Johannsen (soprano, Gabriel & Eve)

Nick Pritchard (tenor, Uriel)

Krešimir Stražanac (bass-baritone, Raphael & Adam)

Choir of the Age of Enlightenment

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Huw Daniel (leader)

Václav Luks (conductor)

7pm, Wednesday 27 May 2026

Royal Festival Hall, London

★★★★

Haydn, Joseph (1732-1809): Die Schöpfung (The Creation), Hob. XXI:2

The Choir & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
© Mark Allan

'From the opening rumbling strings, joined by agile bassoon triplets, Luks created perfect mystery in the strange unresolved cadences ...The choir responded with a controlled pianissimo, giving the ‘shock’ of the forte arrival of 'Licht!' an appropriately impressive impact'.

'Tenor Nick Pritchard (Uriel) was the most directly communicative of the soloists, with commanding recitative, and a beautifully refined 'Mit Würd’ und Hoheit angetan', with delicate flute filigree'.

'Soprano Robin Johannsen (Gabriel and Eve) was a late change to the line-up, but her bright coloratura and fluttering tone were a delight, and her duets with Stražanac (now Adam) were sensitively characterised, as was his slightly mischievous Figaro-esque delivery'.

'What was most impressive was (the choir's) ability to work at speed, especially some of Luks’ most enthusiastic tempi'. 

Robin Johannsen
& the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
© Mark Allan

'Luks, the OAE, choir and soloists certainly brought the full range of Haydn’s ambitious masterpiece to life, while also demonstrating their ability to bring colour and nuance to the fore'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.