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[Classical] Masterpieces of oratorios. Recommended classical music.

The majestic harmonies resound, and the grand musical form known as the oratorio expresses Biblical stories through music.

Its history goes back to the Baroque era, and it has long been cherished as the pinnacle of sacred music.

Today, oratorios are performed not only in churches but also in concert halls, loved as a vital genre of classical music.

The true allure of the oratorio lies in the overwhelming richness and power created by the interweaving of chorus and orchestra.

It opens up a musical world distinct from opera.

In this article, we introduce masterful oratorios that have left their mark on the history of classical music.

[Classical] Masterpieces of Oratorio: Recommended Classical Music (41–50)

Creation of Heaven and EarthFranz Joseph Haydn

It is an oratorio composed in 1798 by Franz Joseph Haydn, who was from Austria.

Based on the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament and Milton’s Paradise Lost, it is one of Haydn’s representative works.

The music depicts the six days of God’s creation of heaven and earth, as well as the story of Adam and Eve, and it begins with a powerful overture befitting the title The Creation.

It is also a landmark work in the oratorio genre, and for those who want to learn what an oratorio is like—its musical character and the kind of forces involved in performance—Haydn’s oratorio The Creation is highly recommended as an introduction.

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Brockes Passion OratorioGeorg Philipp Telemann

Telemann – Brockes Passion – Passion Oratorio (complete)
Brockes Passion OratorioGeorg Philipp Telemann

Telemann, a German composer who represents the late Baroque, is considered the most prolific composer in the history of classical music.

True to his reputation, he composed a great many Passion oratorios.

Brockes was a German poet, and Handel also set his libretto to music.

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The Story of the Resurrection of Jesus ChristHeinrich Schütz

SWV 50 – Heinrich Schütz – Historia der Auferstehung Jesu Christi
The Story of the Resurrection of Jesus ChristHeinrich Schütz

Heinrich Schütz was a composer who served as Kapellmeister at the court in Dresden, Germany, in the 17th century.

Born a hundred years before Bach, he is regarded as the most important composer of the early German Baroque and is called the “father of German music.” This is an oratorio with a sacred atmosphere that narrates Jesus’s death by crucifixion and his resurrection.

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Belshazzar’s FeastWilliam Walton

Walton “Belshazzar’s Feast” – Andrew Davis conducts
Belshazzar's FeastWilliam Walton

An oratorio composed by the modern British composer Walton.

He is one of Britain’s leading composers, who also wrote film scores, including for the British film Henry V.

The libretto is based on the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse) from both the Old and New Testaments.

The renowned conductor Karajan praised this work as “the finest choral composition of the 20th century.”

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In conclusion

As a form performed on an especially grand scale within sacred music, the oratorio has long been cherished by many composers throughout history, giving rise to numerous masterworks.

Its solemn melodies and the rich sonorities of voices and orchestra continue to move audiences deeply in today’s classical music scene.

The world of the oratorio, which weaves religious narratives through music, is a universal art that resonates with our hearts across time and will surely continue to be treasured and passed down.