[News Culture reporter Kwon Subin] Among the many works by Franz Joseph Haydn, a towering figure of the Classical era, the oratorio Die Schöpfung (The Creation, Hob. XXI:2) — completed late in his life — is widely regarded as the pinnacle of his musical achievement. Haydn is said to have declared, “It did not come from me but from Heaven.”
During his time in London, Haydn encountered large-scale oratorio performances that left a lasting impression. He moved beyond strictly religious forms, incorporating dramatic, operatic elements into a distinctive compositional voice. The Creation weaves a compact narrative and expansive choruses to portray the emergence of radiant light and life out of chaos.
The National Chorus will present Haydn’s The Creation as its 208th regular concert on Friday, June 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. Beginning in primordial silence and tracing the vast arc to the animation of all things, the performance shapes that journey in sound and asks audiences to consider how the world is born in song.
Korea’s leading musicians have joined forces to elevate the production. Conductor Min In-gi, who serves as the National Chorus’s artistic director and general director, will shape the ensemble’s overall balance. Soprano Kang Hye-jung, tenor Choi Sang-ho, and baritone Jung Rok-gi — each with notable international credentials — will appear as soloists and drive the narrative.
The National Chorus, together with a youth training ensemble composed of next-generation vocalists, will produce sweeping, majestic harmonies. Early-music ensemble Camerata Antiqua Seoul will employ period performance practice and historical instruments to evoke the sounds of Haydn’s time.
Haydn drew inspiration from stories of the world’s origin, linking diverse musical scenes into an organic whole. From storms and dense darkness to clear birdsong, breaking light, and ultimately the human voice, a variety of elements intertwine with meticulous craft. The work’s intricate orchestration and varied choral textures create a soundscape that represents one of the aesthetic high points of Classical choral music.
More than a piece of religious music, The Creation invites profound reflection. In the resonant sound produced by top-tier performers, listeners confront the mystery of human existence and the wonder of the natural world.
News Culture Kwon Subin ppbn0101@nc.press
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