Haydn's 'The Creation'

Haydn's glorious late oratorio The Creation is considered by many to be his greatest masterpiece, and one of the finest examples of a classical oratorio ever composed. Haydn was inspired to create The Creation following his travels to England, where he heard the great oratorios of Handel still being performed, but with massive forces. Haydn is quoted as saying that, once in the flow, he begged God to let him be able to finish the work – clearly knowing he was onto something special. The Creation would go on to become one of the most successful choral works in Western musical history. At one particular performance, just a year before he died, Haydn had to be carried into the hall on a chair to hear his music. As the audience reacted and cooed at various sublime sections of his oratorio, Haydn was forced to take the spontaneous applause. He is said to have pointed to the sky, smiled and said, 'It's not from me: everything comes from up there!' Andrew Wailes conductor Rachelle Durkin soprano Syrah Torii mezzo-soprano Michael Petruccelli tenor Christopher Richardson bass-baritone Peter de Jager fortepiano Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir Melbourne University Choral Society Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra