Organization

Singer

Johannette Zomer

Soprano

Tenor

Marcel Beekman

Uriel

Conductor

Klaas Stok

Het Concertgebouw

Die Schöpfung (The Creation)

Amsterdam

Netherlands

One of the musical highlights of The Creation is the prelude, in which the idea of a primordial chaos is set to music. Haydn, whose compositions can actually be considered prime examples of “orderly” form, has ingeniously set a cosmic chaos to music in this introduction – and thus in turn put it into musical form. The most outstanding and famous passage in the entire oratorio, however, is that of the creation of light (07:57). At the words “und es ward Licht” (and there was light), a radiant C major bursts forth, like an elemental sound event, which has captivated every listener of The Creation to this day. If you listen to the abruptly sounding C major chord, it seems as if Haydn, while composing, had glimpsed the first spark of the big bang in the depths of space.

Part I
00:00 The Representation of Chaos
09:01 Now vanish before the holy beams
12:33 And God made the firmament
14:31 The marv’lous work beholds amaz’d
16:34 And God said: Let the waters
17:18 Rolling in foaming billows
20:56 And God said: Let the earth bring forth grass
21:27 With verdure clad the fields appear
26:25 And the heavenly host proclaimed the third day
26:37 Awake the harp
28:39 And God said: Let there be lights
29:16 In splendor bright
32:08 The heavens are telling the glory of God

Part II
36:01 And God said: Let the waters bring
36:34 On mighty pens
43:38 And God created great whales
45:40 And the angels struck
46:04 Most beautiful appear
50:13 The Lord is great
52:21 And God said: Let the earth bring forth
52:49 Strait opening her fertile womb
56:14 Now heav’n in fullest glory shone
59:26 And God created man
1:00:09 In native worth and honour
1:03:27 And God saw ev’ry thing
1:03:54 Achieved is the glorious work
1:05:19 On thee each living soul awaits
1:09:48 Achieved is the glorious work

Part III
1:12:28 In rosy mantle appears
1:16:19 By thee with bliss
1:25:26 Our duty we performed now
1:27:47 Graceful consort
1:35:54 O happy pair
1:36:17 Sing the Lord ye voices all

Die Schöpfung (The Creation): Die Schöpfung Franz Joseph Haydn

Public

The Creation

Approved

One of the musical highlights of The Creation is the prelude, in which the idea of a primordial chaos is set to music. Haydn, whose compositions can actually be considered prime examples of “orderly” form, has ingeniously set a cosmic chaos to music in this introduction – and thus in turn put it into musical form. The most outstanding and famous passage in the entire oratorio, however, is that of the creation of light (07:57). At the words “und es ward Licht” (and there was light), a radiant C major bursts forth, like an elemental sound event, which has captivated every listener of The Creation to this day. If you listen to the abruptly sounding C major chord, it seems as if Haydn, while composing, had glimpsed the first spark of the big bang in the depths of space.

English

Die Schöpfung (The Creation) by Haydn, From (2009/2009), Conductor Klaas Stok, Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues