But why Haydn? And why The Creation in particular, we might ask. Haydn was a composer who worked on a strikingly 'human scale', in contrast to the indecipherable and mysterious Mozart and the titanically energetic Beethoven. Additionally, he belongs to us Hungarians, as he worked for the princely Esterházy family for decades as their resident musician. The Creation, though, in addition to being a depiction of the world presenting the genesis process and setting to music the text Baron van Swieten based on the Bible and Milton, is full of faith, energy and hopefulness suited to the start of a new year. And let us not forget: so too are the playfulness of its depictive spirit and Haydn's scintillating humour. In aggregate, this all makes The Creation a perfect work for New Year's, and the second place in the world where it was performed after its Vienna world première was Buda, on 8 March 1800 on the occasion of Haydn's visit to the city, with the composer himself conducting. One of the most outstanding Haydn specialists of our era as well as the world-renowned artistic director of the Budapest Wagner Days festival, Ádám Fischer always finds new things to reveal in the great work. Joining the Hungarian Radio Choir on stage, the Danish Chamber Orchestra has been a close partner of Fischer's for several decades, and the three singers guarantee that the vocal interpretation will be world class.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest