Haydn-The Seasons
classical CD · categorised by title
RRP £37.70 historic list price — see live Amazon pricing below
- Composer
- Haydn Franz Joseph
- Performers
- Jacobs Renã
- Label
- Harmonia Mundi
- Discs
- 2
- Barcode
- 0794881751624
Amazon Review The Seasons was Haydn's followup to his successful The Creation. In four parts, each musically depicting a season, it offers plentiful opportunities for all the participants to shine and conductor Jacobs, his splendid orchestra and chorus, and three outstanding soloists deliver a committed performance that's a delight from the first note to the last. Jacobs is known for his gutsy interpretations and this set is no exception; tempos are lively, the few passages of second-drawer Haydn (still preferable to most composer's top-drawer stuff) retain interest, and the period orchestra delivers crisp, lively playing. Haydn's genius transforms many genre scenes: a summer storm, hunting episodes, daybreak, the gloomy winter fog, peasant dances, and imitations of nature, like frog croaks that will bring a smile to your face. Special kudos for the RIAS singers, who bring a finely blended sound and colorful word painting to the choral numbers. Güra's mellifluous tenor makes his solos a joy, but Petersen's light soprano and Henschel's firm baritone are as effective. This is The Seasons to get if you're having only one. --Dan Davis
This recording is part of the ClassicalMusicStore.co.uk heritage catalogue. The store is no longer trading, but you can find this title — and thousands of other classical and jazz recordings — at a specialist retailer.
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