An overwhelming panorama of the divine creation
A dying opening chord. Silence, occasionally pierced by hesitant melodies and seemingly uncontrolled rhythms. It is by these revolutionary means that Joseph Haydn evokes the chaos of the universe in the first bars of his oratorio Die Schöpfung (1798). What follows is an overwhelming panorama of the divine creation, ending with the entry of Adam and Eve into paradise. The story of the creation is brought to life in smoothly flowing scenes for chorus, orchestra and three vocal soloists. After an ecstatic first performance in Vienna, Die Schöpfung conquered the world. With some justification, because, together with his librettist Baron von Swieten, Haydn created a glorious universe that buzzes with classical lyricism and Handelian drama – an ode to the Creator, nature and man, entirely in the spirit of the Enlightenment. Conducted by René Jacobs, B’Rock and Collegium Vocale Ghent pay a tribute to the cosmically splendid colours of this timeless masterpiece.