Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons): Autumn, “So lohnet die Natur den Fleiß”
Joseph Haydn
Recording
Marlis Petersen (soprano), Werner Güra (tenor), Dietrich Henschel (baritone), RIAS Kammerchor, Freiburger Barockorchester, René Jacobs
- Album
- Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons)
- Year
- 2004
- Length
- Period
- Classical era
- Listen
Painting
George Inness
Harvest Time, 1864
The piece
Haydn's oratorio The Seasons, to a libretto by Gottfried van Swieten after James Thomson, was first performed in Vienna in April 1801. This trio with chorus opens Autumn: Hanne, Lukas and Simon sing that nature repays diligent work with the harvest, and the chorus takes up their words.
The recording
René Jacobs recorded the oratorio with the Freiburger Barockorchester on period instruments, the RIAS Kammerchor and soloists Marlis Petersen, Werner Güra and Dietrich Henschel for harmonia mundi, released in 2004. Gramophone made it an Editor's Choice in its 2004 Awards issue.
Other recordings
John Eliot Gardiner's recording with the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists (Archiv) and Nikolaus Harnoncourt's with the Arnold Schoenberg Choir and Concentus Musicus Wien are worth knowing.