VietNamNet Bridge – HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) will stage Joseph Haydn’s oratorio ‘The Creation’ under the baton of Norwegian conductor Lars Notto Birkeland at the Opera House on May 8 and 9.

Norwegian conductor Lars Notto Birkeland - Photo: Courtesy of organizers

The event, which starts at 8 p.m., is a joint effort between HBSO and Transposition Program of Norway.

The oratorio will feature soprano Cho Hae Ryong, tenor Erlend Tvinnereim, bass Halvor F. Melien and HBSO choir and symphony orchestra. Siri Torjesen will be the vocal coach and Ly Giai Thoa will serve as chorus master.

The Creation, one of the most famous masterpieces of the composer, tells the story of God’s creation of the world in six days according to the Book of Genesis of the Old Testament. The work is structured in three parts and scored for soprano, tenor and bass soloists, chorus, and a symphonic orchestra.

For the recitatives, the harpsichord will be used. In this show, maestro Lars Notto Birkeland will play harpsichord for singers.

Born in 1969 in Olso, conductor, organist and pianist Birkeland worked as chorus master for the Norwegian National Opera for a number of years. His CD of works for organ by French composer Jehan Alain in 2001 received a good response from fans.

Since 2003, he has been working for the Fagerborg Church in Olso, where he organized the Organ Fagerborg Festival. He is also the conductor of the chamber choir at Barratt Due Institute of Music.

He used to work with HBSO to bring the oratorio Messiah and the opera Dido and Aeneas to city music lovers.

Admission costs VND650,000, VND550,000 and VND400,000 per person but students pay just VND150,000. Tickets are available at the Opera House at 7 Lam Son Square in HCMC’s District 1 and can be booked online at www.ticketbox.vn and delivered for free at 08 3823 7419 and 0989 874 517.

Source: SGT