We are delighted to be performing one of the great choral masterpieces this autumn. ‘The Creation’ by Joseph Haydn was composed in the years 1797 and 1798 and remains to this day one of his most popular works. It is noted particularly for the chorus ‘The Heavens are Telling’.
Haydn was inspired to write a large oratorio during his visits to England in 1791 -1792 and 1794 -1795 when, alongside his close friend English music historian Charles Burney, he heard oratorios of George Frederick Handel performed by large companies of musicians. The text for ‘The Creation’ is taken from Genesis, the Book of Psalms and John Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’. The oratorio was first performed in Vienna in 1798 and received its London premiere at Covent Garden in 1800.
The last performance Haydn attended was on 27th March 1808, just a year before he died: the aged and ill Haydn was carried in with great honour on an armchair. According to one account, the audience broke into spontaneous applause at the coming of light in the first chorus and Haydn, in a typical gesture, weakly pointed upwards and said: Not from me - everything comes from up there!
Performing with us will be great professional instrumentalists along with three excellent professional soloists. We are sure this will be an inspiring performance for performers and audience alike.
We acknowledge the generous financial support of The Earley Charity to this concert.