Organization

Singer

Soprano

Dorothea Röschmann

Hanne

Tenor

Michael Schade

Lucas

Bass

Florian Boesch

Simon

Salzburger Festspiele

Conductor

Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Chorus master

Ernst Raffelsberger

Others

Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor

Orchestra

Wiener Philharmoniker

Chor der Wiener Staatsoper

Die Jahreszeiten -  (The Seasons)

Salzburg

Austria

Großes Festspielhaus

"The Seasons" (1801) are after "The Creation" (1798) the second major German-language oratorio by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809). The seasons that determine his life are described from the perspective of the farmer: spring is the time of sowing and hope, in summer all of nature comes alive, autumn brings harvest, hunting and grape harvest, winter fog and darkness. The popular four-part work is a summary of everything that Haydn was able to represent musically.

The Austrian musician Nikolaus Harnoncourt, born in 1929, came from a noble family in Luxembourg and Lorraine. He studied cello and initially worked as a cellist with the Wiener Symphoniker. But historical performance practice interested him more than orchestral service: in 1953 he founded the ensemble "Concentus Musicus Wien" with his wife Alice and worked intensively on early music.

A pioneer of original sound, Harnoncourt showed a stunned audience just how exciting Renaissance and Baroque works can sound. Over the years he expanded his repertoire and devoted himself to classical symphonies at the podium of "modern" orchestras, but also to the Viennese waltz and stage works by Johann Strauss, Richard Wagner,

He taught at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and wrote several fundamental writings on music. In 2012 he was made an officer in the French Legion of Honor and awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society London. In 2014 he received the Echo Klassik for his life's work.

"Maestro Harnoncourt is the favorite star of those who don't really like stars. One believes the phrase about serving at work, on genius. His enthusiasm and joy of discovery delight and inspire" (FAZ 14.7.98)

On December 5, 2015, one day before his 86th birthday, Nikolaus Harnoncourt announced that he was retiring; he passed away on March 5, 2016.

Die Jahreszeiten Haydn

Public

The Seasons

Approved

Photos