Polymnia Choral Society to Present Haydn’s 'The Creation' with Period Instruments

The Polymnia Choral Society will be performing “The Creation” by Franz Josef Haydn on March 9, 7:30 p.m., at the First Parish Congregational Church, 1 Church Street, in Wakefield.

"The Creation" interprets the story of the creation of the world and is considered to be Haydn’s most famous and enduring masterpiece. The audience for Polymnia’s production of Haydn’s masterwork will have the rare opportunity of hearing this outstanding masterwork as it was heard during Haydn’s lifetime, performed on actual or authentically reproduced 18th-century instruments by professional antique instrumentalists.

Polymnia will be joined by celebrated fortepianist Sylvia Berry, who will be playing the continuo, as Haydn did for this work. Sylvia Berry enjoys a rich and varied career as both a performer and scholar of late 18th-century music. She plays a wide variety of historical keyboard instruments, such as early pianos, harpsichords, and organs, and she owns an 1806 Broadwood fortepiano that might well have been played by Haydn himself. Ms. Berry will be offering a pre-concert lecture with details about this masterpiece and information about the 18th-century instrumentation.

Professional soloists Soprano Dana Lynne Varga, Tenor Joseph Holmes, and Baritone Philip Lima will be joining the Polymnia chorus and acclaimed conductor Murray Kidd, now in his 12th year as the choral society’s Music Director.

The March 2019 production will be the first—and perhaps only—time that this full-scale work will be performed in its entirety, with actual and authentically reproduced antique instruments and highly esteemed professional soloists, in this area; it is a unique experience to welcome musicians of such caliber and to view and hear instruments that might have been played by Haydn, Handel, or Mozart.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors, $5 for children under 12 and are available at Miter Biter Frame Company, 479 Main Street, Melrose; Smith Drug Store, 390 Main Street, Wakefield, or at www.polymnia.org.

Inviting All Singers

Polymnia’s next concert will be a Beatles’ revival concert, REVOLVER, on June 1, 2019, at Memorial Hall in Melrose. Any adult or student who loves to sing is welcome to attend rehearsals on Tuesday evenings, 7:00–9:00 p.m., at the Melrose Highlands Congregational Church, 355 Franklin Street, Melrose. No audition necessary.