Description
Joseph Haydn – The Seasons | Helen Donath, Adalbert Kraus, Kurt Widmer | Wolfgang Gönnenwein | United Classics (2CD)
Product Details
UPC: 8713545230123
Label / Brand: United Classics
Format: 2 × CD (Complete Oratorio)
Genre: Oratorio – Classical Choral
Recording Location: Ludwigsburg Castle Festival, Germany
Release / License: 2013, M.A.T. Music Theme Licensing Ltd / T2 International BV
MNB: T2CD2013012
Country of Manufacture: EU
Overview
Joseph Haydn’s The Seasons (Die Jahreszeiten), Hob. XXI:3, stands as one of the composer’s last great masterworks. Premiered in 1801, this monumental oratorio, set to a libretto by Baron Gottfried van Swieten (based on James Thomson’s poem The Seasons), paints a vivid portrait of rural life across spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
This complete performance is led by Wolfgang Gönnenwein with the Süddeutscher Madrigalchor and the Orchester der Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele, joined by a distinguished trio of soloists: Helen Donath (soprano), Adalbert Kraus (tenor), and Kurt Widmer (bass). The recording captures the pastoral freshness, symphonic grandeur, and spiritual depth that have made The Seasons a cornerstone of the choral repertoire.
Performers
- Soprano (Hanne): Helen Donath
- Tenor (Lukas): Adalbert Kraus
- Bass (Simon): Kurt Widmer
Süddeutscher Madrigalchor Orchester der Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele Conductor: Wolfgang Gönnenwein
Product Features
- Complete The Seasons (Die Jahreszeiten), Hob. XXI:3 by Joseph Haydn
- Sung in German, with full libretto included
- A masterful performance under Wolfgang Gönnenwein
- Rich choral and orchestral forces recreating Haydn’s grand vision
- 2-CD set with excellent sound and balance
Track Listing (Highlights)
(Full track breakdown in booklet)
CD 1 – Spring & Summer
- Introduction & Chorus: “Sein Anblick strahlt der Sonne Glanz”
- Recitatives and arias: awakening of springtime, praise of nature
- Summer: storm scene, pastoral songs, and harvest anticipation
CD 2 – Autumn & Winter
- Autumn: hunting chorus, vintage festival, peasant dances
- Winter: scenes of rest, hearth warmth, and meditation on life’s cycle
- Closing chorus and fugue: praise of divine order
Interesting Facts
- The Seasons was written after the success of Haydn’s The Creation and reflects the composer’s mature genius at age 69.
- The work balances earthly realism (farm work, hunts, storms) with spiritual depth pointing toward eternity.
- The hunting chorus in Autumn and the winter storm remain some of Haydn’s most dramatic musical depictions.
- This recording is valued for its authentic interpretation and the clarity of German diction in both chorus and soloists.
Publishers
Published by United Classics under license from M.A.T. Music Theme Licensing Ltd / T2 International BV (2013).
A timeless addition to any collection of great choral masterworks.
Hashtags
#Haydn #TheSeasons #UnitedClassics #HelenDonath #AdalbertKraus #KurtWidmer #WolfgangGönnenwein #ChoralMusic #Oratorio
