Haydn's great oratorio — for choir, soloists and orchestra — was written in the last years of the 18th century, when he was 66. He was the most famous composer in the Western world and after a lifetime of innovation and wonderfully humane creativity, he celebrates perhaps the most joyous and joyful event of all, the Creation of the world. The range of the work is one of its triumphs, right from the opening, with its extraordinarily imaginative depiction of Chaos and the Creation of the world, to the climax, where all the forces join to celebrate God's gift of the world and all its creatures. And yet, there's intimacy too — these are humans and Haydn understood humanity like few others. Andreas Spering's performance is alive to the Creation's depth and breadth and his singers (both solo and chorus) truly do Haydn justice. This is a real inspiration.