ORIANA COLLABORATION PROMISES BEAUTIFUL CREATION
In just five weeks’ time, a wonderful musical event will take place on centre stage at Venue 114, Bokarina. The Sunshine Coast’s own internationally acclaimed Oriana Choir will join forces with the prestigious Brisbane Chorale, to present one of the music world’s greatest and most beloved choral masterpieces, Franz Joseph Haydn’s The Creation.
The Creation is truly a magnificent musical event. As its title suggests, it is a musical retelling of the creation of the world, as recorded in Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament. Haydn’s inspiration for composing the work came primarily from having visited England, and hearing a number of the oratorios of Handel, performed by large ensembles of singers and musicians. He wanted to see if he could succeed in achieving comparable results with a work of his own.
And succeed he surely did! With a libretto by his collaborator Gottfried van Swieten, based on quotations from the King James Bible and Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, Haydn’s great oratorical work became a runaway success from its very first performances in the late 1790s. It has been a regular part of the concert repertoire ever since. Its music has a power and beauty which admirably complement the poetry of the libretto. One does not need to subscribe to the spiritual element of the story in order to appreciate and enjoy the wonder of the music.
The Creation, together with Handel’s Messiah, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah, constitute “The Big Three” of oratorio. And Oriana, having performed both Messiah and Elijah with great success, is delighted to finally have the opportunity to add The Creation to its repertoire. Oriana Choir, together with the Brisbane Chorale, and conducted by Emily Cox AM, with soloists Leanne Kenneally (soprano); Tobias Merz (tenor); and Jason Barry-Smith (bass), will constitute an ensemble of 160 voices, with a full orchestral accompaniment.
This is a concert series that will profoundly move and delight devotees of great choral music, long-time fans of Oriana, and even those for whom a choral concert performance is a new experience. If you’ve never been to a choral concert before, there’s hardly a better introduction than Haydn’s Creation. If you are already a choral music lover, you can be sure that a wonderful musical afternoon is in store.
Performance dates:
Sunday, November 13, 3.00 pm – Venue 114, 114 Sportsman’s Parade, Bokarina
Sunday, November 20, 3.00 pm – Brisbane City Hall, King George Square, Brisbane.
For bookings -
Brisbane City Hall - https://4mbs.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/78726
