If one believes an anecdote from the early 1790s, it was with his oratorio Die Schöpfung (The Creation) that Haydn, in the autumn of his years, hoped to perpetuate his fame for posterity - even though he was already the most celebrated composer in Europe. Not surprisingly, the work's first public performance in 1799 was a huge triumph and the work was immediately repeated twice. Five years after his much acclaimed version of Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), René Jacobs offers a new, definitive version of this masterpiece as his major contribution to the celebration of the bicentenary of Haydn's death. For a limited time, this new 2-CD set includes a bonus DVD about the making of the recording. (less info)