Joseph Haydn THE SEASONS

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Saturday, June 6th, 2026
7:30 PM to 9:30 PM

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/Hanne), tenor Isaiah Bell (Lucas), and bass-baritone Stephen Hegedus (Simon).

The Seasons, amongst Haydn's last major works, took him 3 years to complete; a task that he said nearly broke his back. But this master orchestrator outdid even himself - his instrumentation of the piece from beginning to end is breath-takingly beautiful, and its harmonies are more daring than anything except ‘Chaos’ in his better-known work,The Creation.

Though based on an English poem, published in 1730 by James Thomson, the original German libretto by Baron Van Swieten has undergone various unsatisfactory translations back into English. For this performance, the VPC is using a new translation by Michael Pilkington, which is a better fit for Haydn's musical phrasing.

Doors will open at 6:30 for a 6:50 pm pre-concert talk by renowned musician/lecturer Robert Holliston.

Concert tickets available at vpchoir.tickit.ca

And check out vpchoir.ca/upcoming for info on FOR THE SEASONS, a visual arts exhibit by Siobhan Humston, artist workshops and community talks that interweave art and the natural word. This week is part of the Celebrating Gaia series sponsored by the Gail O'Riordan Climate & the Arts Legacy Fund through the Victoria Foundation.