HAYDN’S CREATION
The marv’llous work beholds amaz’d the glorious hierarchy of heav’n and to th’ ethereal vaults resound the praise of God.—Gabriel, The Creation
I was catching up on household tasks one Thursday afternoon, one earbud tucked in to hear Haydn’s beautiful oratorio The Creation. I washed and organized the inside of the refrigerator while the archangel Uriel sang an aria: ‘Disorder yields to order, fair the place.’ I washed dishes, shined the stove-top, swept and dusted to a chorus of angels singing the first seven days. {The libretto is a compilation of the Genesis account and Milton’s Paradise Lost.}
From the dark gropings of chaos, to the gloriously explosive first light, to the tender duet of Adam and Eve, The Creation is a majestic and jubilant celebration of God’s power and beauty. It nearly equals Handel’s Messiah—the oratorio that brought Haydn to tears and that inspired what is certainly his most beautiful music.
• detail of Adam’s creation from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo Buonarroti •
October 1, 2013