Music
Franz Joseph Haydn (born Rohrau, 31 March 1732; died Vienna, 31 May 1809)
Text
Gottfried van Swieten
Source
Poem The Seasons (1730) by James Thomson.
Premieres
First Performance: Vienna (Schwarzenberg Palace), 24 April 1801.
First Performance in UK: tbc.
First performance in Scotland: tbc.
Background
The Seasons is an oratorio for three solo voices, chorus and orchestra. It was commissioned from Haydn following the success of The Creation, and the composer, now feeling his age, was extremely reluctant to embark on a further substantial project. He was tired and ill throughout the composition, though this is never transmitted to the music, which is light-hearted and joyous throughout.
Characters
Simon, a farmer (baritone)
Jane, Simon's daughter (soprano)
Lucas, Jane's suitor (tenor)
Summary
As with The Creation, where the work starts with an orchestral representation of primordial chaos, The Seasons begins with a depiction of the departure of Winter, to be succeeded by Spring, with flowers, green leaves, and the revival of animal and human life. Summer concentrates on the work done in the cool of the morning, the fatigue and enforced rest during the sultry heat of mid-day, when plants, people and animals all wilt, and the refreshing effects of a violent thunderstorm. This is followed by colourful depictions of animals, including crickets and frogs, before peace descends.
Autumn brings in the hard labour associated with the harvest, followed by the continuing courtship of Lucas and Jane, and then a colourfully illustrated hunting scene, with an exciting chase. The sequence ends with celebratory drinking and dancing. The concluding movement of Winter, shows weary travellers struggling home through the snow. Even if work outside is restricted, there are plenty of tasks for people to do indoors, such as spinning, as well as a certain amount of dalliance. The work ends cheerily, in spite of considering mortality and the afterlife.
© Copyright Opera Scotland 2024
Site by SiteBuddha