Boston Baroque Releases CREATION Recording

Boston Baroque, North America's first permanent Baroque Orchestra, enters a dynamic new recording era with its debut release for European audiophile label Linn Records: Franz Joseph Haydn's oratorio, The Creation (Die Schöpfung).

"Haydn's Creation is a work that Boston Baroque has wanted to record for some time, and we are excited to begin our collaboration with Linn Records with this fantastic piece," says Martin Pearlman, Music Director of Boston Baroque. "The timing of this release is perfect. Not only is Linn now increasing its distribution in the American market, but its European base gives Boston Baroque a greater presence in the international market."

Linn Records Producer Philip Hobbs says, "I am delighted that the first fruit of the new collaboration between Boston Baroque and Linn Records is this wonderful, invigorating recording of Haydn's Creation. Martin Pearlman's insightful direction shows this great masterpiece in its brightest colors, with a fantastic orchestra and chorus and a truly stellar line-up of soloists. This album will be a jewel in the Linn Records catalogue for years to come and will, I hope, be the first of many."

From its first performance in Vienna in April 1798, The Creation caused an unprecedented sensation throughout Europe. It was seen as the crowning achievement of the greatest living composer, and box office receipts for the premiere broke all records. Among its many extraordinary moments are the opening, depicting the chaos which preceded creation – arguably the most modern music written up to that time; the enormously effective and popular musical depictions of animals, the sunrise and other effects; and the famous moment when light is created out of darkness with a sudden, fully orchestrated C Major chord.

The Boston Baroque Creation has been recorded as a multi-channel hybrid SACD, playable on any standard compact disc player. The two-disc set includes a 32-page booklet containing the libretto in German and English, with notes on the work and the recording by Martin Pearlman.

North American distribution for Linn Records is by Naxos of America, Inc. Pre-orders for The Creation are currently being accepted by Amazon.com in advance of the North American commercial release date of August 28, 2012.