Haydn’s The Creation 17 May 2025

A stunning performance of Haydn’s The Creation at St Paul’s

Our 600 strong audience, four brilliant soloists, 31 musicians and 91 choristers all agree – a stunning performance of Haydn’s The Creation by Victoria Chorale at St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday 17 May.  In the magnificent setting of St Paul’s Cathedral and lead by our conductor Dr Mario Dobernig, we took our audience on an uplifting, enthralling and brilliant libretto evocation of the biblical story of creation and Haydn’s extraordinary score.Welcome to our exciting choral 2025 with three performances, commencing with Haydn’s The Creation on Saturday 17 May at St Paul’s Cathedral.  An opportunity to savour and ponder the world’s beginning in music and song!

One of the great choral masses and oratorios of the Baroque and classical periods, Haydn (and others) regarded it as one of his greatest masterpieces.  The Creation was written late in Haydn’s life, inspired by the oratorios of Handel that he had heard in London.  His creation story is optimistic, reflecting Enlightenment ideals of a harmonious relationship between human beings and nature.  Structured in three parts, it tells the story of the six days of creation, using a libretto inspired by both the Bible and Milton’s Paradise Lost.  The orchestral arrangement helps tell the story, depicting the many aspects of nature, oceans, animals, fish and birds, and the beauties of Eden.

Die Schöpfung/The Creation was published in 1800 in German and English.  There have been a number of versions published over the past centuries, with some text and orchestral arrangement differences.  With brilliant soloists, we will be singing in English and accompanied by the Art of Sound Orchestra conducted by the renowned Mario Dobernig.