Joseph Haydn: Die Schöpfung, Hob. XXI:2

Along with Handel's MESSIAH, which was greatly admired by Joseph Haydn (1732–1809), the oratorio THE CREATION (Die Schöpfung) is one of the few works of this genre written before 1800 that from the outset has enjoyed uninterrupted popularity with audiences and choirs alike. In this timeless classic dating from 1798, Haydn creates a musical world with such a variety of different expressive means that its radiant charisma is irresistible. Hans-Christoph Rademann describes it with the words:

“If it is possible to convey our gratitude for God's glorious creation through music, then I believe that Joseph Haydn has succeeded brilliantly with this oratorio. I see Haydn's CREATION as a reminder to preserve our earth. Out of the note C he creates a resonant world for us.”

The work opens with a symphonic “Representation of Chaos”, a setting of “Nichts” (nothingness) verging on the hideous, which is then swept away by the powerful setting of the word “light” sung by the chorus. They then sing “Und eine neue Welt entspringt auf Gottes Wort” (“A new created world springs up at God’s command”), radiating joy, and a vivid musical story begins. In this work, Haydn teaches us to “see with the ears”, we hear the emergence of the elements, see the whole range of animals in our mind’s eye, and experience the birth of the first humans: the wonder of creation.