A New Creation

A historic world premiere performance of Samuel Arnold’s Hymn of Adam and Eve plus Haydn’s Creation Part Three presented by Renaissance Singers, Schola Sacra and the Manawatu Sinfonia Conducted by Guy Donaldson with soloists Pasquale Orchard and Lindsay Yeo. The Renaissance Singers of Palmerston North in collaboration with The Schola Sacra of Whanganui (music director – Roy Tankersley) and the Manawatu Sinfonia on November 10 of 2018 jointly present in the Regent Theatre an historic world premiere of The Hymn of Adam and Eve, an 1802 work by English composer Samuel Arnold. Samuel Arnold (1740-1802) was a dominating musical figure of his time in England. From 1777 he was composer and music director of the Haymarket Theatre Royal, and wrote more than 60 works for this theatre over 20 years. His works enjoyed critical acclaim and popular success in his lifetime. The Hymn of Adam and Eve was influenced by Handel and Haydn, particularly by Haydn’s oratorio Creation, which Arnold conducted in 1801. Arnold died on 22 October 1802, four years after sustaining injuries from a fall. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. He completed The Hymn of Adam and Eve months before he died and planned performances were cancelled. The work has yet to receive a performance anywhere in the world. Palmerston North academic Professor Robert Hoskins is a world authority on the music of Samuel Arnold. Professor Hoskins’ 1982 doctoral thesis examined Arnold’s accomplishments as a prominent musician, composer, and editor of the works of Handel. Professor Hoskins was responsible for the editing of the published score of The Hymn of Adam and Eve. The Hymn of Adam and Eve seems to have been conceived as a blending of inspirations from Handel’s Messiah and Haydn’s The Creation as well as meeting the challenge of setting part of Milton’s Paradise Lost. It is likely that he conceived the role of Eve for Gertrud Elizabeth Mara – a celebrated German coloratura who worked in England from 1786. The Palmerston North concert will begin with a first \"half\" of Haydn Creation Part Three, which is concerned with Adam and Eve. The second \"half\" will be Arnold’s The Hymn of Adam and Eve. There is a common theme of Adam and Eve in both works, and both have similar styles (the Arnold paying homage to the Haydn). The concert will have the distinction of a world premiere of an early nineteenth century oratorio prepared by a Palmerston North recognised leading musicologist. The viability of the project has depended on engaging the services of a New Zealand coloratura soprano who would be prepared to learn the demanding and lengthy role of Eve for perhaps just a single performance. We have secured one of the very few singers in the country who is capable of singing the role, Pasquale Orchard. Pasquale will be furthering her career in England following the performance. The role of Adam needs to be similarly youthful, and Lindsay Yeo of Palmerston North will take the role. Guy Donaldson will be the conductor of the concert.