Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten (DVD)

Haydn's masterspiece, The Creation is known to all lovers of classical music, however few people know that he invested two years of hard work into The Seasons until he was satisfied. Although he was getting on in years when he finished this work, and fell ill shortly afterwards, it is the freshness which distinguishes The Seasons and makes it one of the most popular oratories right up to the present day. The Seasons is not only a historic landmark at the end of the 18th and the start of the 19th century, it also demonstrates clearly the crossover from the objective ideals of the classic era to the more subjective nature of the romantic era. This beautiful piece has now been filmed as a co-production between the Second German Television Company (ZDF) and Hänssler Publishing, Stuttgart. Helmuth Rilling conducts the Gächinger Kantorei and the Bach Collegium Stuttgart. The film is interspersed with beautiful nature pictures which complement the musical interpretation of the changing of the seasons beautifully. Without becoming self-indulgent of following any "new trend" the director makes new and exciting use of camera angles and lighting. The overall impression is of a new and innovative way of interpreting a popular piece of music whilst drawing on the experience of traditional ways of filming classical music.

Haydn - Die Jahreszeiten