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.

Tracklist:

No.1: Introduction: The Overture Paints The Passage Of The Winte
No.2-Chorus: Come, Gentle Spring!
No.3-Recitative: Now In His Course The Sun
No.4-Aria: With Eagerness The Husbandman
No.5-Recitative: The Countryman Has Done His Due
No.6-Soloists And Chorus: Prayer. Be Now Gracious, O Kind Heaven
No.7-Recitative: Our Humble Pray'rs Are Heard
No.8-Trio And Chorus: Song Of Joy, With An Alternating Chorus Of
No.9-Solists And Chorus: Endless God, Mighty God, Merciful God
No.10-Recitative: The Overture Paints The Dawn Of Day. Her Face
No.11-Aria: The Ready Swain In Gath'ring Now. Recitative: With R
No.12-Soloists And Chorus: The Sun Ascends, He Mounts
No.13-Recitative: Now Comes In Swarms The Rustic Youth
No.14-Recitative: 'Tis Noon, And Vertical The Sun
No.15-Cavatina: Distressfull Nature Fainting Sinks
No.16-Recitative: O Welcome Now, Ye Shady Groves
No.17-Aria: O What Comfort To The Senses
No.18-Recitative: Behold! On Yonder Edge Of Mountains High
No.19-Chorus: Oh! The Tempest Comes O'er Head
No.20-Soloists And Chorus: The Cloudy Welkin Now Clears Up
No.21: Overture: The Overture Indicates The Husbandman's Satisfa
No.22-Recitative: Th' Abundant Harvest Now He Brings
No.23-Terzetto And Chorus: So Nature Ever Kind Repays
No.24-Recitative: Behold, How To The Hazelbank
No.25-Duet: Ye Ladies Fine And Fair! O Come
No.26-Recitative: Now On The Stripped Fields Appear
No.27-Aria: Behold The Wide Extended Meads
No.28-Recitative: Here Closed Rings Compel The Timid Hares
No.29-Chorus: Hear, Hear the Clank And The Noise
No.30-Recitative: The Vineyard Now In Clusters Bright
No.31-Chorus: Heyday, Heyday! The Liquor Flows
No.32-Overture: The Overture Paints The Thick Fogs At The Beginn
No.33-Recitative: Now Sinks The Pale Declining Year
No.34-Cavatina: Light And Life In Sadness Languish
No.35-Recitative: By Frost Cemented Stands The Lake
No.36-Aria: Here Stands The Wand'rer Now
No.37-Recitative: As He Draws Nigh, Soon To His Ears
No.38-Solists And Chorus: Set The Wheel Agoing, Make It Snore
No.39-Recitative: Th' Evening Task Performed Is
No.40-Song And Chorus: An Honest Country-Girl There Was
No.41-Recitative: Now From The Livid East
No.42-Aria: Behold, O Weak And Foolish Man. No.43-Recitative: Al
No.44-Soloists And Double Chorus: Then Comes The Great And Glori

UPC: 747313260027
Label: Naxos
Release Date: 3.21.06
Format: CD

Morten Schuldt-Jensen - Die Jahreszeite (The Seasons) (2 CD)