The Lapse of Time is a large oratorio for soloists, choir, organ and orchestra. The composer Bj?rn Morten Christophersen has picked out particularly striking and poetic excerpts from Darwin's "The Origin of Species" and put them together into a libretto. Darwin's book is not only a scientific thesis, but also an impressive piece of writing that reveals an enthusiastic and inspired author.
The oratorio The Lapse of Time reflects on the enormous time span of evolution. At the same time, the work contains a number of church musical instruments and seeks to create a space for common wonder and excitement about the development of life on earth.
Nature has more or less had its way up to our time, but we are intervening in it to an increasing degree. We also attach cultural qualities to it when we experience it as beautiful, brutal, charming or attractive. The composer has been inspired by this to write a work that develops in long, dramatic waves.
Contributors:
Ditte Marie Br?in, soprano
Frank Havr?y, baryton
Inger-Lise Ulsrud, organ
Ensemble 96
Nina T. Karlsen, chorus master
Telemark kammerorkester
Per Kristian Skalstad, conductor