Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten (the Seasons)

Sir Colin Davis; Miah Persson, Jeremy Ovenden, Andrew Foster-Williams; London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

Joseph Haydn
Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons)

In 2009 LSO Live released an acclaimed recording of Haydn's Die Schöpfung (The Creation) conducted by Sir Colin Davis. For his next release Sir Colin returns to the music of Haydn with a superb cast of young singers for his later oratorio Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons).
Following the success of Die Schöpfung (The Creation), which had swiftly gained popularity throughout Europe, Haydn's librettist Baron Gottfried van Swieten suggested another project, based on James Thomson's pastoral epic, The Seasons. One of Haydn's last major works, Die Jahreszeiten depicts the yearly cycle of life in the countryside through the eyes of three peasants, providing us with music of thrilling vitality and creativity.
Sir Colin's other recent LSO Live releases have included Nielsen's Symphonies Nos 4 & 5 (Editor's Choice Gramophone, Choice of the Month BBC Music Magazine, Disc of the Month Hi-Fi News) and a disc featuring Walton's Belshazzar's Feast and Symphony No 1.
Sir Colin conducts the LSO in London during May and June, when they will record Nielsen's Symphony No 6. In July they will travel to Aix en Provence, where the LSO is resident at the Aix Festival for performances of Mozart's La clemenza di Tito. Sir Colin conducts the LSO in London and Paris in September before visiting New York for the orchestra's second New York residency of 2011.
Other recent LSO Live releases include a disc of music by Debussy and Mahler's Symphony No 5, both conducted by Valery Gergiev.

Concert reviews
'The sun had been shining all Sunday, but the LSO and Chorus had their own fount of light and life on hand; Colin Davis, injecting even more joy into Haydn's last oratorio. It was happiness that above all characterised Davis's ruddy-cheeked, rhythmically precise performance. In this monument to the Enlightenment, enlightenment began with the choice of soloists. Miah Persson, Jeremy Ovenden and Andrew Foster-Williams each had their own timbre, but stayed united in expressive clarity. The crowning glory was the London Symphony Chorus. With secure pitch, continuous glee and warmth they pounced upon everything that Haydn bequethed' The Times (UK)
'Davis had the full measure of the sheer humanity of Haydn's vision, its tenderness and grandeur, and its almost childlike sense of delight in the world around him. He also had an excellent trio of soloists at his disposal. Miah Persson's shining soprano matched well with Jeremy Ovenden's agile tenor and Andrew Foster-Williams's authoritative baritone. Davis's warmth and conviction in this music remain potent and undimmed' The Guardian (UK)
'Davis is a consummate Haydn interpreter, and his reading of The Seasons" has a strength and integrity in which the composer's mature voice shines ... this committed account was overwhelming, a joy to experience' ClassicalSource (UK)

Price: $18.98