Barucco / Wiener Singakademie / Ferlesch

»And there was light.« At these words, after many bars of chaos, the clearest C major resounds in Haydn’s »The Creation«. The sun has conquered the darkness; the act of creation begins. At the premiere on 29 April 1798 in Vienna, the audience is said to have been so moved that the orchestra was unable to continue playing for several minutes. Thunder, lightning, birds and lions could also be discerned in evocative soundscapes, whilst the oratorio further delighted with artful arias and hymnal choruses.

Souvenirs from London
Haydn was probably inspired to compose the work during his previous trip to London, where he was able to experience the spectacular Handel Commemoration Festival at Westminster Abbey. On his return journey from London, he carried the English libretto in his luggage, which Gottfried van Swieten was to adapt in Vienna for »The Creation«. Under the baton of Heinz Ferlesch, the period instrument ensemble Barucco and the Vienna Singakademie perform Haydn’s popular composition. The roles of Adam, Eve and the archangels Gabriel, Uriel and Raphael are brilliantly portrayed by the sought-after singers Elsa Benoit, Kieran Carrel and Alexander Grassauer.