Vivaldi was not the only composer to write a universally popular Four Seasons. Composed directly after The Creation (Naxos 8557380-81), Haydn's oratorio The Seasons features three peasant soloists who sing of the joys, trials and tribulations of country life throughout the year, complete with a chorus of villagers. Haydn's genius transforms many genre scenes - a summer storm, hunting episodes, daybreak, the gloomy winter fog and peasant dances - into something truly spectacular, joyous and life-affirming, in keeping with his deeply held religious conviction. Morten Schuldt-Jensen and the Gewandhaus chamber choir join forces again for this their second Naxos release.
16 No.16-Recitative: O Welcome Now, Ye Shady Groves
17 No.17-Aria: O What Comfort to the Senses
18 No.18-Recitative: Behold! on Yonder Edge of Mountains High
19 No.19-Chorus: Oh! the Tempest Comes O'er Head
20 No.20-Soloists and Chorus: The Cloudy Welkin Now Clears Up
- Disc 2 -
1 No.21: Overture: The Overture Indicates the Husbandman's Satisfaction at the Abundant Harvest. Recitative: What By Various Blossoms Fair Spring
2 No.22-Recitative: TH' Abundant Harvest Now He Brings
3 No.23-Terzetto and Chorus: So Nature Ever Kind Repays
4 No.24-Recitative: Behold, How to the Hazelbank
5 No.25-Duet: Ye Ladies Fine and Fair! O Come
6 No.26-Recitative: Now on the Stripped Fields Appear
7 No.27-Aria: Behold the Wide Extended Meads
8 No.28-Recitative: Here Closed Rings Compel the Timid Hares
9 No.29-Chorus: Hear, Hear the Clank and the Noise
10 No.30-Recitative: The Vineyard Now in Clusters Bright
11 No.31-Chorus: Heyday, Heyday! the Liquor Flows
12 No.32-Overture: The Overture Paints the Thick Fogs at the Beginning of Winter
13 No.33-Recitative: Now Sinks the Pale Declining Year
14 No.34-Cavatina: Light and Life in Sadness Languish
15 No.35-Recitative: By Frost Cemented Stands the Lake
16 No.36-Aria: Here Stands the Wand'rer Now
17 No.37-Recitative: As He Draws Nigh, Soon to His Ears
18 No.38-Solists and Chorus: Set the Wheel Agoing, Make It Snore
19 No.39-Recitative: TH' Evening Task Performed Is
20 No.40-Song and Chorus: An Honest Country-Girl There Was
21 No.41-Recitative: Now from the Livid East
22 No.42-Aria: Behold, O Weak and Foolish Man. No.43-Recitative: Alone She Stays! Alone She Too
23 No.44-Soloists and Double Chorus: Then Comes the Great and Glorious Morn
Vivaldi was not the only composer to write a universally popular Four Seasons. Composed directly after The Creation (Naxos 8557380-81), Haydn's oratorio The Seasons features three peasant soloists who sing of the joys, trials and tribulations of country life throughout the year, complete with a chorus of villagers. Haydn's genius transforms many genre scenes - a summer storm, hunting episodes, daybreak, the gloomy winter fog and peasant dances - into something truly spectacular, joyous and life-affirming, in keeping with his deeply held religious conviction. Morten Schuldt-Jensen and the Gewandhaus chamber choir join forces again for this their second Naxos release.
