Performance Information

HAYDN Creation and Seasons
Europe and USA Tour

Sir John Eliot Gardiner conductor
The Monteverdi Choir 
Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique

Soloists:  Lucy Crowe/ Rebecca Evans/ Katharine Fuge/ Sophie Karthäuser/ James Gilchrist/ Matthew Brook/ Andrew Kennedy/ Vuyani Mlinde/ Tim Mirfin/ Matthew Rose

The Creation and The Seasons made Haydn the most popular composer in Europe.  Two works of universal appeal, they unite dramatic choruses and lyrical arias with colourful orchestral writing; they reflect an optimistic and orderly view of humanity which is characteristic of the Enlightenment.

The Creation became hugely popular with the audiences of its day and during Haydn's lifetime alone was performed more than forty times outside Vienna, not only in Europe but even in Russia and the United States.  It is still considered to be Haydn’s masterpiece. The oratorio is based on the Book of Genesis and was largely inspired by Handel’s oratorios Israel in Egypt and Messiah, which Haydn had heard on his first visit to London in 1791. The Creation uses comparatively large forces for the period, to create the full sound Haydn wanted.

The Seasons was written after The Creation had already proven a success. It makes use of the same tone-painting techniques to describe nature, particularly in the instrumental introductions to each season, which can be seen as precursors of early romanticism.

The Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists have made acclaimed recordings of these two oratorios with Sir John Eliot Gardiner. This year, for the 200th anniversary year of Haydn’s death, they will be touring with them in Europe and the USA.

Carnegie Hall, New York, United States

Date: 15 Oct 2009
Start Time: 20:00

The Seasons

Venue link: click here
Ticket link: click here