Haydn's oratorio "The Creation" was inspired by Handelian oratorios, which he first encountered during his visits to London in the early 1790s.
Notable Performances
The first private performance of "The Creation" was commissioned by the Gesellschaft der Associierten and took place at the Schwarzenberg Palace in Vienna on April 30, 1798.
Critical Reception
An audience member at the 1799 public premiere of "The Creation" was so overwhelmed that they dreamed of the creation of the world all night, despite the crowded conditions.
Compositional Technique
Haydn's "The Creation" uses musical descriptions of animals, such as blaring brass for a roaring lion and fidgety string tremolandos for insects, often before the verbal description.
Performer Biography
Sir Colin Davis, the conductor on this album, was the London Symphony Orchestra's Principal Conductor from 1995 to 2006 and became its first President since Leonard Bernstein in 2007.
Recording & Production
This recording of Haydn's "The Creation" was captured live on October 6-7, 2007, at the Barbican, London.
Composition History
Baron Gottfried van Swieten, an amateur music enthusiast and court librarian, translated the libretto for "The Creation" into German and made musical suggestions to Haydn.
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