“The famous conductor Mr Haydn was a universal success here with his oratorio Il ritorno di Tobia, performed on the second and fourth of this month, providing another demonstration of his noted artistry. Expression, nature and art formed such organic threads in his work from beginning to end that his listeners couldn’t help but adore the former and admire the latter.” This was how one contemporary newspaper informed its readers of the Viennese premiere of Haydn’s first oratorio in the spring of 1775. It truly would be hard to overestimate the work’s place and role in the evolution of his fame and his career as a composer. Today, however, Il ritorno di Tobia is much less well-known than The Creation and The Seasons, or even the choral version of The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross. Yet in his work on the faith-filled setting to music of a biblical story that speaks of forbearance, trust and the healing power of divine intervention, Hayden brought the very best of his knowledge as a composer, and György Vashegyi will doubtless do the same with his own interpretation. Vashegyi is devoted to spreading and popularising this work, and a series of superb vocal soloists from Concerto Budapest and the Purcell Choir will also partake in this noble undertaking.