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IU Jacobs School of Music presents Haydn masterwork ‘The Creation’ in Bloomington and Indianapolis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 12, 2012

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana University Pro Arte Singers and the IU Chamber Orchestra, both from the Jacobs School of Music, will present Joseph Haydn's masterwork "Die Schöpfung" ("The Creation") in three free performances, in Bloomington and Indianapolis.

William Jon Gray and choir

William Jon Gray

Print-Quality Photo

Conducted by William Jon Gray, chair of the Jacobs Choral Conducting Department, the ensembles will perform the large oratorio at 8 p.m. Nov. 2 and 3 in Bloomington's Auer Hall.

The series finale will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, at the Second Presbyterian Church -- 7700 North Meridian Street -- in Indianapolis. A reception will follow in McFarland Hall.

The Saturday, Nov. 3, performance will be live streamed via the IU Music Live! site as part of the Jacobs Department of Recording Arts' 2012-13 streaming season.

"The human impulse to create works of art out of the recesses of our imagination is the same impulse the creator expressed in forming the material universe out of the void of eternity," said Gray. "What once was formless and empty is now teaming with miraculous variety and strange beauty. Haydn's burst of musical creativity in 'The Creation' rivals the explosion of cosmic energy at the beginning of time. It is a masterpiece of seemingly infinite invention and infused with the joy of making things."

Written between 1796 and 1798, "The Creation" depicts the creation of the world using texts from the biblical books of Genesis and Psalms, and John Milton's epic poem "Paradise Lost."

The work contains the famous orchestral movement "The Representation of Chaos" and the beloved chorus "The Heavens Are Telling."

The three-part oratorio - considered by many to be Haydn's masterpiece - is scored for soprano, tenor and bass soloists, chorus and a symphonic orchestra.

The Pro Arte Singers is the top, professional-level vocal ensemble in the Jacobs School of Music. It is an elite chamber ensemble of experienced singers in which the artistic, vocal and musical contributions of each individual singer are emphasized.