And there was light --
thanks to Haydn

WHEN Adam and Eve sing to us, we should listen. This weekend, maestro Samuel Wong will lead an epic production of Joseph Haydn's choral masterpiece, "The Creation," at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.

The Honolulu Symphony and more than 130 voices of the Honolulu Symphony Chorus, plus three singing angels, the appropriately adorned Adam and Eve, and the dancers of Halau Hula Ka Noeau will join forces to tell the story of the beginning of the world.

'THE CREATION' The Honolulu Symphony and the Honolulu Symphony Chorus present Hadyn's work: In concert: 8 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Sunday Place: Blaisdell Concert Hall Tickets: $21, $33, $43, $51 or $64; 20 percent discount for seniors, students and military Call: 792-2000 or Ticketmaster at 1-877-750-4400; or order online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Based on a compilation of texts from the first chapter of the Book of Genesis and John Milton's "Paradise Lost," "The Creation" celebrates the hope of a brighter future and peace among all nations.

For several hundred years, audiences have been drawn to the genius of Haydn's music and the thrill of more than 200 musicians and vocalists performing together onstage. Whether you're a connoisseur or novice, young or old, Republican or Democrat, you'll enjoy "The Creation" for its magnificent music and universal appeal.

"The Creation" premiered in 1798, and each subsequent performance created shock waves across Europe. Almost instantly, it was performed all over the continent from Budapest to Stockholm, from Paris to London. It endures as one of classical music's greatest masterworks.

A terrific task awaits maestro Wong. How do you get all the voices of the choir, soloists and instruments of the orchestra, to join in a single, enchanting and heavenly sound? Under inexperienced hands this undertaking could result in disharmony, but rest assured that our maestro will bring us together in beautiful harmony.

I remember a story that circulated in college circles, when as a student I would play under the direction of less-than-stellar conductors. The story goes like this: Three students in a sociology class are debating the question of what is the oldest profession on Earth. "Of course, doctors were first," the premed student said. "When the Bible says, 'God created Man in his own image,' who do you think his little helper was?"

"Not so," the electrical engineer argued. "Before there was even Adam and Eve, God said, 'Let there be light.' Who do you think set up all the wires in the whole universe?"

Unconvinced by his friends' arguments, the music student said: "It must have been a conductor. Before there was Adam and Eve, before there was light, before there was even heaven, what was there? It was just chaos. And who do you think, standing alone on the podium, was directing that?"

All joking aside, Wong will be conducting a marvelous musical version of chaos, but in the way Haydn intended it to be. The opening number of "The Creation" is an orchestral representation of void and nothingness, taking place before the angel Raphael's first words: "In the beginning, God created the Heaven."

HOW DO YOU musically illustrate chaos, heaven and other biblical descriptions? In 1798 it was the Classical era of music, and Haydn used techniques that were in vogue. Today, one could imagine a living composer striking his elbow on the piano to create chaos, but that certainly would not have been acceptable some 200 years ago. Imagine George Washington or John Adams looking at a Picasso painting, and you will understand the incompatibility.

In some instances, Haydn used the "antique style" to create chaos, while for others he used a text-painting technique. The antique style is named after Palestrina, a 16th-century Italian composer of the Renaissance period who was highly regarded for his sacred music. He was adept in his treatment of dissonance, or conflicting musical sounds, and Haydn followed his model to describe the deep darkness of chaos. A chromatic descending line, a minor mode and muted strings enhance the unsettled mood. By contrast, Haydn uses text painting when the choir sings "And there was LIGHT!" For this sudden change, mutes are off, and the whole orchestra erupts in a glorious and rejoicing chord.

Whether stormy, loving or calm, Haydn's music possesses the elegance of the Classical period, with its fluid lines, clear articulations and overall radiance. However, with the urgent expression felt throughout "The Creation," one can sense the emergence of Romanticism, signaling the beginning of a new musical era.

When you join us at the concert hall, you'll be able to follow the text and listen to the corresponding music, or you can choose to just sit back and enjoy our unique cross-cultural interpretation. "The Creation's" beauty and purity is a delight to hear, and our concerts are a rare opportunity to experience this inspirational masterpiece. Hope to see you in the concert hall!