Gli Angeli Genève

Benjamin Levy conductor
Judith van Wanroij soprano
Julian Prégardien tenor
Stephan MacLeod bass

Joseph Haydn
The Seasons

Three years after Die Schöpfung, which Gli Angeli Genève performed to close the Festival in 2022, it is Joseph Haydn’s other great oratorio that will be honoured in 2025. Baron van Swieten, who had already translated the English libretto of The Creation into German for Haydn, proposed his own arrangement of The Seasons by the Scotsman James Thomson to the composer. This long work in verse, which was very popular in England at the time and sings of the cycle of nature and country life, did not immediately appeal to the composer, who, seeking to follow in the Handelian tradition of British oratorio, did not appreciate a subject that had nothing to do with religion. Fortunately, he persevered, albeit at the cost of some rather resounding quarrels with his librettist, for these Seasons form a splendid necklace of delicate and humble pearls that will be strung for us by the very fine conductor Benjamin Levy, at the helm of Gli Angeli Genève on this occasion. Benjamin Levy is not only an excellent conductor, he is also a hedonist, and Haydn’s music makes him happy. The prospect of his work with our orchestra, our choir, and soloists Judith van Wanroij, Julian Prégardien and Stephan MacLeod is already a promise fulfilled.

The concert will be introduced by Philippe Albèra at 7.15 pm.