Hymnof praiseto thecreation
Haydn’smasterpiecefromhislateryears, DieSchöpfung(TheCreation) isanoptimistic workthatcombinesfaith,awonderfornatural beauty,andimaginativemusicality.
Illustrations: Thefifthdayofcreation(p.3)and Theseconddayofcreation(p.4). WoodcutsbyMauritsCornelisEscher (1926).
Strictlyspeaking, DieSchöpfung isfromaRomanCatholicmusical traditiondepictingtheBiblical tellingofthecreation.Inthe firsttwopartsthreearchangels describeindetailhowGodcreated theworldinsixdays.Inthethird andfinalpartwehearAdamand Eveofferingeffusivethanksto theirCreatorandexpressinghow theyintendtolivetheirlivesina goodway. Thework,however,extends beyonditsreligiousframework thankstothecombinationof Haydn’schildlikeenthusiasm andmaturemusicalgenius. Inhis66thyear,thecomposer workedwithsuchdedication that DieSchöpfung quicklygrew intoauniversalhymnofpraise. Eversinceitspremierein1798, mostlisteners,regardlessof theirreligiousbeliefs,havebeen captivatedbythemixofarias, recitativesandjubilantchoruses thatinterplayoverthecourseof morethanoneandahalfhours. DespitetheGermanlibretto, Die Schöpfung ismodelledonthe English-languageoratoriosof Handel.Haydncameacrossthe musicofhisgreatpredecessor duringthetwolengthystaysin Englandfollowingretirement ascourtmusician.Although
Handelhaddiedoverthirty yearspreviously,oratoriossuch as Messiah and IsraelinEgypt hadretainedtheirpopularity amongstthemusic-lovingBritish. Ithadbecomethecustomto performsuchoratorioswith enormousorchestrasandchoirs. Haydnattendedsuchalargescaleperformanceof Messiah at WestminsterAbbeyduringthe HandelFestivalof1791.
Excitingandhappy Haydnissaidtohaveconfidedin hisEnglishacquaintancesofhis wishtocomposesuchanoratorio himselfoneday.Justbeforehis returntoViennain1795,hewas givenalibrettothattoldthestory ofthecreation.Theanonymous writerhadwovenreworkedparts ofMilton’sepicpoem Paradise Lost withthenarrativefromthe OldTestamentBookofGenesis. Accordingtotradition,this librettohadoncebeenpresented Handel,whohadneveractually usedit.Haydn,however,didset towork,oncehisViennesefriend BaronVanSwietenhadtranslated thetextintoGerman.
Haydn,atthetimeoneofthe mostfamousmusiciansinthe world,understoodperfectlyhow hightheexpectationswerefor
PROGRAMME
Haydnleftthehall,overcomebythepowerofhis ownmusicandbythecongratulationsofallthose present.
thisoratorio,whichneededto becomehismagnumopus.He thereforetookthetimeforhis visionforthisambitiouswork tofullydevelop.Foralmosta yearandahalf,fromtheend of1796toearly1798,heworked almostwithoutinterruptionon DieSchöpfung.Henodoubtfound itanexcitingandhappyperiod inhislife.Heconfidedtohis biographerGriesingerthathehad neverfeltsodevoutlyreligiousas duringthatperiod:‘Ifelltomy kneeseverydaytopraytoGodfor strength.’
Followingthecelebratedpremiere oftheworkinVienna,under
thebatonofthecomposer himself,theoratoriosetoutona triumphanttourthroughEurope. ThefirstperformanceinFrance on24December1800might evenhavechangedthecourseof history.Onhiswaytotheconcert, NapoleonBonapartenarrowly survivedanattemptonhislife. Anotherfamousperformance occurredon27March1808 whenViennesehighsocietypaid tributetoHaydnontheoccasion ofhis76thbirthday.Theelderly composerwascarriedinto theuniversityhallonachair. Overcomebythepowerofhisown musicandbythecongratulations
ofallthosepresent,heleftthe hallattheendofthefirstpart, havingbeenkissedonthehand byhisformerpupilBeethoven. Thiswouldbehislastpublic appearance.
Harmonyandconfidence
Thestructureof DieSchöpfung is clear.Withadaringorchestral introductionfullofunresolved harmoniesHaydndepictschaosin musicalform.Thisisfollowedby six‘chapters’documentingeach ofthesixdaysofGod’slabours. Musically,thefifthandsixthdays takelonger-togetherformingthe secondpartoftheoratorio–and
describe DieSchöpfung ofthe birds,andthebeasts,andman himself.Eachdayendswitha songofpraisefromthefour-part choir.
Atthecentreofthegently moralisingthirdpartaretwo extensiveduetssungbyAdam andEve.Thescenesaresetinthe GardenofEden,longbeforethe originalsinthatarchangelUriel warnstheradiantcoupleabout inhisfinalrecitative.Thereis littleelseonthesubjectofevil dweltuponin DieSchöpfung.Only attheendofthefirstdayisthere adescriptionofthefallofthehell spiritstoan‘endlessnight’.Apart fromthat,thedominantmoods arejoy,harmony,andconfidence inthefuture,inaccordancewith thespiritoftheEnlightenment,of whichthisoratorioisalatebut typicalexample.
Whilstalessercomposercould havestruggledtocreatesucha workwithitslackofconflicts anddrama,Haydnisableto sustainthetensionwitharichly variedmusicallanguage.Justa fewhighlightsarethemagical momentwhenonthefirstday thereislight,theexuberant chorusthatendsthefourthday, andthemovingrecitativeof archangelRafael’scallonthe fifthdayforthewhalesto multiply.
Alsoextremelyabsorbingare thenumerousexamplesof onomatopoeiawithwhich Haydnaddsextrapowertohis descriptionsofnature.Andwith hismusicaldescriptionsofsnow, thewavesofthesea,thesunrise, andalonglistofanimals,from tigertoturtledove,Haydngivesa nodtotradition.Intheromantic eramanyfoundthistechnique tobeoldfashioned,butitis somethingthattoday’smusic loversadore.
oratorium),omdathierdedieren endemensgeschapenworden. Elkedageindigtmeteenlofzang doorhetvierstemmigekoor. Inhetlichtmoraliserendederde deelstaantweeuitgebreide duettenvanAdamenEva centraal.Plaatsvanhandelingis deTuinvanEden,langvoorde erfzonde,waaraartsengelUriëlin zijnlaatsterecitatiefhetstralende paarvoorwaarschuwt.Hetkwaad heefthoe
inDieSchöpfung.Alleenaanhet eindvandeeerstedagkomtde vandehelsegeesten‘zurewigen Nacht’eventersprake.Voorde restoverheersenblijdschap, harmonieenvertrouweninde toekomst,conformdegeestvan deVerlichtingwaarditoratorium eenlaatmaartypischvoorbeeld vanis.
Bijeenminderecomponist hadditgebrekaanconflicten endramatieknadelige gevolgenkunnenhebben, maarHaydnweetdespanning vasttehoudendankzijeen rijkgeschakeerdemuzikaletaal. Enkelehoogtepuntenzijnhet magischemomentwaarophet lichtopdeeerstedagverschijnt, hetuitbundigeslotkooraan heteindevandevierdedag, enhetontroerenderecitatief waarmeeRafaelopdevijfdedag dewalvissenoproeptzichte vermenigvuldigen.
JanWillemdeVriend-Conductor
Currentposition: principalguestconductorStuttgarter Philharmoniker;principalguestconductorOrquestraSimfónicade Barcelona;principalguestconductorOrchestreNationaldeLille; artistinresidenceStavangerSymphonyOrchestra
Previously: principalguestconductorResidentieOrkestTheHague; chiefconductorOrkestvanhetOosten(2006-2018);principalguest conductorBrabantsOrkest(2008-2013)
Education: violin,conservatoriesAmsterdamandTheHague
Breakthrough: 1982,asfounderandartisticleaderCombattimento ConsortAmsterdam
Subsequently: guestappearanceswithRoyalConcertgebouw Orchestra,MozarteumOrchesterSalzburg,ZürichTonhalle Orchester,KonzerthausorchesterBerlin,Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart,NDRSinfonieorchesterHannover
Zeeronderhoudendzijnook detalrijkevoorbeeldenvan klanknabootsingwaarmee Haydnextrakrachtverleent aanzijnnatuurbeschrijvingen. Ondermeersneeuw,zeegolven, zonsopgangeneenlangereeks dieren,vantijgertottortelduifje, passerenderevue.Metdergelijke voorbeeldenvantoonschildering knipoogtHaydnnaardetraditie. Inhetromantischetijdperk vondenvelendezetechniek ouderwets,maardehuidige muziekliefhebbersmultervan.
Opera: 17thand18thcenturyoperaswithCombattimentoConsort; SanktMoritzFestivalBasel
MichelKhalifa
DebutRotterdamPhilharmonic: 2014
MichelKhalifa
Photo:FrisoKeuris
LucyCrowe-soprano
Born: Staffordshire,England
Education: RoyalAcademyofMusic,London Awards: RoyalOverseasGoldMedal(2002), KathleenFerrierAward(2005,secondprize) Breakthrough: 2009,debutRoyalOperaHouse CoventGarden
Subsequently: operaatGlyndebourneFestival, DeutscheOperBerlin,BavarianStateOpera, MetropolitanOperaNewYork,DutchNational Opera,soloswithBerlinPhilharmonic,Vienna Philharmonic,MonteverdiOrchestra,Scottish ChamberOrchestra,LondonSymphonyOrchestra withconductorssuchasSirJohnEliotGardiner, DanielHarding,AndrisNelsons,YannickNézetSéguin,andSirSimonRattle
Recitals: ConcertgebouwAmsterdam,Carnegie Hall,festivalsofAldeburgh,Edinburgh,and Salzburg,MostlyMozart,BBCProms DebutRotterdamPhilharmonic: 2022
MauroPeter-tenor
Born: Lucerne,Switzerland
Education: MunichHochschulefürMusik undTheaterwithFennaKügel-Seifried, TheaterakademieAugustEverding
Awards: InternationalRobertSchumann CompetitionZwickau(2012):firstprizeand audienceprize
Breakthrough: 2012:debutsPrinzregententheater Munich,SchubertiadeSchwarzenberg,and SalzburgFestival
Subsequently: operaatZürichOpernhaus,Theater anderWien,OpéraNationaldeParis,Bavarian StateOpera,RoyalOperaHouseCoventGarden, TeatroallaScala,SemperoperDresden,Opérade Lyon
Inconcert: BostonSymphonyOrchestra,Royal ConcertgebouwOrkestra,MunichPhilharmonic, AccademiaNazionalediSantaCecilia,Vienna SymphonicwithconductorssuchasAndris Nelsons,SirJohnEliotGardiner,TrevorPinnock, FabioLuisi,IvánFischer,NikolausHarnoncourt DebutRotterdamPhilharmonic: 2022
Photo:VictoriaCadisch
Photo:ChristianFelber
ChristopherPurves-Bass
Born: Cambridge,England
Education: King’sCollege,Cambridge
Firstfame: rockgroupHarveyandtheWallbangers
Classicalbreakthrough: attheopera,inDonizetti’s DonPasquale
Subsequently: RoyalOperaHouseCoventGarden, GlyndebourneFestivalOpera,ScottishOpera, OpéraComiquedeParis,TeatroallaScala,Dutch NationalOpera,BavarianStateOpera,Chicago LyricOpera
Inconcert: NewYorkPhilharmonicOrchestra, SanFranciscoSymphonyOrchestra,London SymphonyOrchestra,RoyalPhilharmonic Orchestra,GewandhausorchesterLeipzig,Royal ConcertgebouwOrchestra,LeConcertd’Astrée, AcademyofAncientMusicwithconductorssuchas RichardEgarr,AlanGilbert,EmmanuelleHaïm,Sir SimonRattle,Esa-PekkaSalonen,MasaakiSuzuki DebutRotterdamPhilharmonic: 2007
Founded: 2002byBarendSchuurman
Presentconductor: WiecherMandemaker
Chorusmembers: youngprofessionalsingers
Repertoire: musicforchamberchoirfromallperiod styles
Identity: asapartofLaurensVocaal,theLaurens
CollegiummarksimportanteventsbothinRotterdam andoutside,suchascommemorationsandholidays, programmingitsconcertsaroundcurrentthemes
Co-operations: RotterdamPhilharmonicOrchestra, RoyalConcertgebouwOrchestra,Orchestraof theEighteenthCentury,ResidentieOrkestwith conductorssuchasFransBrüggen,Stéphane Denève,YannickNézet-Séguin,LahavShani,and JaapvanZweden,projectswithNatuurmonumenten andNtjamRosie
DebutRotterdamPhilharmonic: 2011
Photo:WiecherMandemaker
Photo:ChrisGloag LaurensCollegium-chorus
Musicians
Thu22December2022•20.15
Fri23December2022•20.15
conductor YannickNézet-Séguin choir NationaalKinderkoor and NationaalJongenskoor Tchaikovsky TheNutcracker
Sun8January2023•10.30
MusicforBreakfastNo.2 with RonTijhuis (CorAnglais), Carla Schrijner (Cello),and colleagues fromtheorchestra ChamberMusicby Honegger, M.Haydn, Onslow, Broemel,and VaughanWilliams
Thu12January2023•20.15 Fri13January2023•20.15
Sun15January2023•14.15
conductor LahavShani piano DaniilTrifonov Beethoven PianoConcertono.1 Strauss EinHeldenleben
Sun12February2023•10.30
MusicforBreakfastNo.3 with CharlotteSprenkels (Harp), VeronikaLénártová (Viola),and colleaguesfromtheorchestra ChamberMusicby Mozart, Takemitsu, Ibert and Debussy
Thu24February2023•20.15 Sun26February2023•14.15
conductor LahavShani mezzosoprano(Judith) Claudia Mahnke baritone(Bluebeard) Johannes MartinKränzle Ligeti Atmosphères Bartók DukeBluebeard’sCastle
Thu9March2023•20.15 Fri10March2023•20.15
Sun12March2023•14.15
conductor JordiSavall Rebel Lesélémens MaraisAirspourlesMatelotsetles Tritons Händel WaterMusic Rameau SelectionfromLesIndes GalantesandHippolyteetAricie
ChiefConductor LahavShani
Honorary Conductor YannickNézet-Séguin
Principal Assistent Conductor BertieBaigent
FirstViolin IgorGruppman, leader
MariekeBlankestijn, leader QuirineScheffers HedYaronMeyerson SaskiaOtto ArnoBons MireillevanderWart CorvanderLinden RachelBrowne MariaDingjan Marie-JoséSchrijner NoëmiBodden PetraVisser SophiaTorrenga HadewijchHofland AnnerienStuker Alexandravan Beveren KoenStapert SecondViolin CharlottePotgieter CeciliaZiano FrankdeGroot LaurensvanVliet TomokoHara ElinaStaphorsius JunYiDou BobBruyn LetiziaSciarone EefjeHabraken MaijaReinikainen WimRuitenbeek BabettevandenBerg MelanieBroers
Viola AnneHuser
RomanSpitzer GalahadSamson KerstinBonk LexPrummel JanineBaller FrancisSaunders VeronikaLénártová RosalindeKluck LeónvandenBerg OlfjevanderKlein
Cello EmanueleSilvestri JoannaPachucka DanielPetrovitsch MarioRio GévanLeeuwen EelcoBeinema CarlaSchrijner
Agenda
PepijnMeeuws Yi-TingFang DoubleBass MatthewMidgley YingLaiGreen JonathanFocquaert RobertFranenberg HarkeWiersma ArjenLeendertz RicardoNeto Flute JulietteHurel JoséphineOlech DésiréeWoudenberg Flute/Piccolo BeatrizDaBaião Oboe RemcodeVries KarelSchoofs AnjavanderMaten Oboe/CorAnglais RonTijhuis Clarinet JulienHervé BrunoBonansea Clarinet/ BassClarinet Romke-JanWijmenga Bassoon PieterNuytten LolaDescours MariannePrommel Bassoon/ Contrabassoon HansWisse Horn DavidFernández Alonso WendyLeliveld RichardSpeetjens LaurensOtto PierreBuizer Trumpet AlexElia SimonWierenga JosVerspagen Trombone PierreVolders AlexanderVerbeek RemkodeJager BassTrombone RommertGroenhof Tuba Hendrik-JanRenes Timpani DannyvandeWal Percussion RonaldEnt MartijnBoom AdriaanFeyaerts Harp CharlotteSprenkels
