On Nov. 12–14, the Boston Symphony Orchestra presents the world premiere of “Creation,” a new evening-length oratorio by Osvaldo Golijov.
Vocal soloists are Cécile McLorin Salvant and Davóne Tines. They are joined by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the BSO x NEC Honors Children’s Choir. Instrumental soloists are Cyro Baptista, Kayhan Kalhor, and Jeremy Flower who is also the sound designer. Eric Jacobsen conducts. Alex Sopp provides original artwork and animation and Camilla Tassi is the projection designer.
Golijov’s work is a contemporary response to Haydn’s “The Creation” bringing together musical genres and traditions with lyrics by David Henry Hwang and Leah Hager Cohen, alongside writings by Dante Alighieri, Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Ecclesiastes, the Zohar, and the Psalms. This “Creation” moves between celebration and lamentation, the oratorio confronts both the beauty of the natural world and humanity’s capacity for cruelty and tenderness, asking what it means for us, human beings, to become creators.
Creation is co-commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Edinburgh International Festival. All performances will take place at Symphony Hall in Boston.