Two weeks ago, the BSO performed Haydn's magnificent oratorio "The Creation." I neglected to posrt about it at the time, but maybe you listened anyway. There will be another opportunity to hear it when: beautiful music with spectacular yeffects depicting the creation of light as well as other elements of creation they replay it on Monday the 16th at 8:00 p.m., Boston Time. This is a piece not to be missed.
This evening we get a contemporary take on the theme of creation. https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2026-09-08/the-boston-symphonys-world-premiere-of-golijovs-creation:
Saturday, November 14, 2026
8:00 PMArgentine-born American composer Osvaldo Golijov responds to Joseph Haydn’s oratorio, The Creation, with Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang in a musically eclectic and dynamic work revealing surprising commonalities among the origin stories across cultures. This momentous new work draws on jazz, Arabic, and Brazilian music as it explores Darwinian theory, randomness in the cosmos, and theories of the universe.
Further embarking on the Faith in Our Time journey launched last season that ponders faith, spirituality, and religion, the BSO surveys music that seeks to answer one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring questions: How did we come to be?
Eric Jacobsen, conductor
Cécile McLorin Salvant, vocalist
Davóne Tines, bass-baritone
Cyro Baptista, percussion
Kayhan Kalhor, kamancheh
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
BSO x NEC Honors Children's ChoirCreation (World premiere; BSO commission)
Music by Osvaldo GOLIJOV
Book by David Henry HWANG
Lyrics by Leah Hager COHENLearn more about the Boston Symphony Orchestra's 2026-2027 season on their site.
In a conversation with CRB's Brian McCreath, Eric Jacobsen, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Davóne Tines their roles in Golijov's Creation and the challenges and rewards of bringing the piece to fruition with the BSO. To listen, use the player above, and read the transcript below.
The BSO pag https://www.bso.org/events/nov-12-14-golijov?performance=2026-11-14-20:00e has the usual links and gives us the following:
Boston Symphony Orchestra Eric Jacobsen, conductor Cécile McLorin Salvant, vocalist Davóne Tines, bass-baritone Cyro Baptista, percussion Kayhan Kalhor, kamancheh Tanglewood Festival Chorus Jean-Sébastien Vallée, conductor and BSO Director of Choruses BSO x NEC Honors Children's ChoirMichele Adams, director, BSO x NEC Honors Children's Choir Alex Sopp, original artwork and animation Camilla Tassi, projection designer Creation (World premiere; BSO commission) Music by Osvaldo GOLIJOV Book by David Henry HWANG Lyrics by Leah Hager COHEN
The power of Argentine-born American composer Osvaldo Golijov’s musical voice lies in the great range of his musical loves, which encompass popular and traditional music from all over our planet and the great classics of the symphonic and operatic worlds. Working with a roster of stellar cross-genre performers, Golijov responds to Joseph Haydn’s great oratorio The Creationwith a work that explores the gloriously indifferent cosmos alongside humanity’s bewildering capacity for cruelty and infinite tenderness as we, creatures ourselves, answer the call to be creators too.
Drawing upon a concept by the Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang and with lyrics by Leah Hager Cohen, Golijov offers a work of questioning and celebration.
Golijov’s Creation works on a scale that recalls his powerful, Bach-inspired La Pasión según San Marcos, given its American premiere at Symphony Hall in 2001. David Henry Hwang wrote the libretto for his acclaimed opera Ainadamar, a BSO commission for the Tanglewood Music Center premiered at Tanglewood in 2003.
It might be interesting.
