Joseph Haydn THE SEASONS

The Victoria Philharmonic Choir, conducted by Peter Butterfield, presents Joseph Haydn’s magnificent and rarely-performed secular oratorio, The Seasons. This work, first performed in 1801, paints musical pictures of the joys and sorrows of human endeavours, and of nature itself, in the colours of our planet’s natural cycles. (Listen for the sounds of croaking frogs and an approaching thunderstorm!).

Along with an orchestra, there are three soloists who represent archetypal country folk:  soprano Jennifer Turner (Jane), tenor Isaiah Bell (Lucas), and bass-baritone Stephen Hegedus (Simon).

The Seasons took Haydn 3 years to complete; he said it nearly broke his back. But its orchestration is breathtakingly beautiful, and its harmonies are more daring than anything except ‘Chaos’ in his better-known work, The Creation.

Well-known musician/lecturer Robert Holliston will give a pre-concert talk at 6.50 pm; doors to CCC will open at 6.30 for festival seating.

This concert is presented as part of the Celebrating Gaia Series sponsored by  the Gail O’Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Fund through the Victoria Foundation. Please visit vpchoir.ca/upcoming for info on FOR THE SEASONS, a visual art exhibition by Siobhan Humston, plus art workshops and community discussions on art and the environment.