The Creation, Hob. XXI:2
The Creation (Die Schöpfung) is an oratorio written between 1796-8 by Joseph Haydn, and considered by many to be his masterpiece. It depicts and celebrates the creation of the world as described in the biblical Book of Genesis and in Paradise Lost. It is scored for soprano, tenor and bass soloists (representing the Archangels Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael), chorus and a symphonic orchestra, and is structured in three parts. it is said that Haydn was inspired to write this piece when he heard, during his visits to England, oratorios by Handel performed by large forces. It is likely that Haydn wanted to try to achieve results of comparable weight by employing the mature classical style. The libretto draws from the Genesis, the Psalms, and Milton's Paradise Lost. After a private indoors performance (which nonetheless gathered a large crowd outside the building) the first public performance was at Viennas Burgtheater in 1799. The Creation is set for three vocal soloists (soprano, tenor, and bass, with an incidental solo for alto in the finale), four-part chorus (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), and a large Classical orchestra consisting of 3 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, alto, tenor, and bass trombones, timpani, and the usual string sections of first and second violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. For the recitatives a harpsichord or fortepiano is also used. There seems little doubt that Haydn wanted a big sound (by the standard of his day) for his work. Between the private premieres for nobles and the public premiere in 1799, Haydn added extra instrumental parts to the work. The forces for the public premiere numbered about 120 instrumentalists and 60 singers. A typical performance lasts about one hour and 45 minutes.

Franz Joseph Haydn, known as Joseph Haydn, was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms. He was also instrumental in the development of the piano trio and in the evolution of sonata form. A lifelong resident of Austria, Haydn spent much of his career as a court musician for the wealthy Esterházy family on their remote estate. Isolated from other composers and trends in music until the later part of his long life, he was, as he put it, "forced to become original". At the time of his death, he was one of the most celebrated composers in Europe
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eszpqPUECCU