Joseph Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten

Christian Gerhaher (Performer), Franz Joseph Haydn (Composer), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Conductor), Concentus Musicus Wien (Orchestra), Genia Kühmeier (Performer), Werner Güra (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Christian Gerhaher, Genia Kühmeier, Werner Güra
• Orchestra: Concentus Musicus Wien
• Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt
• Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
• Audio CD (March 17, 2009)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Masterworks
• ASIN: B001IRFVBW
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #313,915 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Frühling; 1. Einleitung: Largo. Vivace & Rezitativ - "Seht, wie der strenge Winter flieht"

2. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Frühling; 2. Chor: Allegretto - "Komm, holder Lenz"

3. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Frühling; 3. Rezitativ - "Vom Widder strahlet jetzt"

4. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Frühling; 4. Aria: Allegretto - "Schon eilet froh der Ackermann"

5. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Frühling; 5. Rezitativ - "Der Landmann hat sein Werk vollbracht"

6. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Frühling; 6. Terzett mit Chor: poco Adagio - "Sei uns nun gnädig, milder Himmel"

7. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Frühling; 7. Rezitativ - "Erhört ist unser Flehn"

8. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Frühling; 8. Freudenlied: Andante - "O wie lieblich ist der Anblick"

9. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Sommer; 9. Einleitung & Rezitativ: Adagio - "In grauem Schleier rückt heran"

10. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Sommer; 10. Aria: Allegretto - "Der munt're Hirt versammelt nun" & Rezitativ "Die Morgenröte bricht hervor"

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Herbst; 19. Einleitung: Moderato & Rezitativ - "Was durch seine Blüte"

2. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Herbst; 20. Terzett mit Chor: Allegretto - "So lohnet die Natur den Fleiß"

3. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Herbst; 21. Rezitativ - "Seht, wie zum Haselbusche dort"

4. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Herbst; 22. Duett: Allegretto - "Ihr Schönen aus der Stadt, kommt her"

5. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Herbst; 23. Rezitativ - "Nun zeiget das entblößte Feld"

6. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Herbst; 24. Aria: Allegro - "Seht auf die breiten Wiesen hin!"

7. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Herbst; 25. Rezitativ: Allegro - "Hier treibt ein dichter Kreis"

8. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Herbst; 26. Chor der Landleute und Jäger: Vivace - "Hört! hört das laute Getön!"

9. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Herbst; 27. Rezitativ - "Am Rebenstocke blinket jetzt"

10. Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons), Hob. XXI:3; Der Herbst; 28. Chor: Allegro molto - "Juhe! Juhe! Der Wein ist da"

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "The Floggings will continue until Morale Improves", October 22, 2011

By 

Bernard Michael O'Hanlon (Wilsons Prom, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joseph Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten (Audio CD)

Was Captain Bligh above referring to the crew of the HMS Bounty or the rank and file of the Concentus Musicus Wien? I suspect it is the latter. Over the years they have done it tough (a stint on the oars in a Roman trireme would have been easier than being a violinist in the CMW throughout the survey of Bach Cantatas and beyond). Indeed, one wonders why a Fletcher Christian has yet to arise from their ranks. While Harnoncourt is a diligent, perceptive conductor with integrity - a Showboat Billy he ain't - his interpretations rarely make for easy listening with their explosive accents, the eschewal of charm and wilful tempos. Unlike other practitioners of period practice, Harnoncourt does not anaemically shy away from grandeur like a vampire does light - to wit, the finale of Winter on this recording with its evocation of the Last Judgement - but it is always on his own terms. Harnoncourt's palette is unmistakable and sometimes unbearable. His triumphs notwithstanding, it must drive any full-blooded violinist crazy.

This is Harnoncourt's second take on the Die Jahreszeiten. It is less acerbic than the old Teldec recording which Gresham's Law, operating in reverse, has extirpated Haydn: The Seasons (Die Jahreszeiten). In light of its fate, one wonders why Sony bankrolled another exposition: it is laudable all the same.

Harnoncourt's achievement here is uneven. Regrettably, he pulls out the skipping rope in the famously languid introduction to Summer: our lunar neighbour has more atmosphere to its name (and the same could be said of its counterpart in Autumn). But conversely, the aria that follows (Der muntre Hirte versammelt nun) with the horns is as persuasive as any. Predictably, the Storm is fury incarnate and the Trio with Chorus that sees off summer is surprisingly evocative. Heading into Winter, I had been dreading that Harnoncourt was going to don the Nikes for the famous introduction but thankfully he defied my expectations: indeed, the sonority he invokes at 2'22" is astounding. The Kavatina that Janowitz sang so ravishingly under Karajan is spoilt by the fast tempo (Joseph Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten. I have never heard a better rendition of `Ein Machen, das auf Ehre hielt' - bravo to the Arnold Schoenberg Choir.

Of the three singers, I was most impressed by the baritone Christian Gerhaher with his stentorian declamations.

This is a Seasons to admire and respect than love. It is a worthwhile acquisition. As always, Harnoncourt - a great man - provides a rollercoaster experience with exhilarating thrills and dips that seemingly belie his stature. First choice remains Bohm's classic version from 1967 (Haydn: The Seasons. There, one focuses less on stylistic considerations and more on this Eclogue set to music.

And if a CMW violinist has yet to leap to his feet and cry "I am in hell, I am in hell" like the famous mutineer, long may music-making of this calibre continue.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Joseph Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten, November 20, 2010

By 

Bjorn Viberg (European Union) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joseph Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten (Audio CD)

Joseph Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten is a recording under the direction of Nikolaus Harnoncourt who leads the Concertus Musicus Wien on this deutsche harmonia mundi released from 2008 and distributed by Sony Music Entertainment. The booklet contains 55 pages. Joseph Beheim (translated into English by Clive Williams) has written a short and well-written essay entitled "Joseph Haydn: The Seasons". The lyrics are available in English and German. Highly recommended. 5/5.