By Uwe Scholz
With Les Grands Ballets Orchestra, choir and soloists
In The Creation, Uwe Scholz Uwe Scholz transforms Joseph Haydn’s monumental oratorio into a powerful ballet inspired by the Book of Genesis and devoted to the birth of the world.
From chaos to light, from the rise of nature to the appearance of humanity, the work unfolds as a vast foundational tale, carried by music of remarkable power and clarity that fills the theatre and draws the audience in. Deeply guided by faith, Haydn offers a luminous score, driven by a profound sense of grandeur and hope.
JEAN PAUL RIOPELLE, Sans titre, 1965, oil on canvas, 63.5 cm, round © Succession Jean-Paul Riopelle / CARCC Ottawa 2026
On stage, Scholz’s choreography, both rigorous and richly textured, embraces Haydn’s vision through a series of meticulously crafted scenes. Blending classical ballet with contemporary movement, the work is further enriched by projections of paintings by the great Québécois artist Jean Paul Riopelle.
Carried by Les Grands Ballets Orchestra, the choir, and three soloists, Andréanne Brisson-Paquin (soprano), Philippe Gagné (tenor), and Clayton Kennedy (bass), the dancers embody elemental forces, symbolic figures, and the first humans. By turns powerful and restrained, The Creation emerges as a work of striking scale, where music, dance, and visual art come together to move and inspire.
This ensemble comprises 55 highly skilled musicians and soloists. Our orchestra has been playing a major role in the success of Les Grands Ballets for over 30 years.
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ABOUT THE SHOW
Total duration: 1h58min.
Act I: 56 minutes
Intermission: 20 minutes
Act II: 42 minutes
LES GRANDS BALLETS
