Haydn’s Oratorio The Creation was inspired by handel’sOratorios when Haydn visited England in 1791-2 and1794-5. It was composed from 1796 to 1798. HaydnRemarked: “I was never so devout, as when I was at work on the Creation. I fell on my knees each day and begged God to give me the strength to finish the work”. It is scored for four soli, chorus and large orchestra. Part I celebrates the creation of Primal Light, the Earth, the Heavenly Bodies and Plants. Part II celebraters the creation of sea creatures, birds, animals and man and Part III is set in the Garden of Eden. Happy hours of Adam and Eve. Haydn followed with with another Oratorio: The seasons (1801) In the Romantic era, Mendelssohn had conducted Bach’s St. Matthew passion in Leipzig in 1829. Elijah is modeled on the Oratorios of both Handel and Bach. Mendelssohn introduces a Romantic Flavour through use of lyricism and orchestral and choral colour. Both Elijah and St. Paul (1834-6) very popular in Victorian England.