Concert: The Seasons, May 21-22, 2011 @ Oshwal Auditorium Westlands

The Nairobi Music Society Presents The Seasons by Joseph Haydn

Dates: May 21-22, 2011
Venue: Oshwal Auditorium, Westlands
Time: 7pm (May 21, 2011) and 3pm (May 22, 2011)
Tickets: Adults Kshs 500, Students KShs 300

Performances by NMS Nairobi Music Society Choir & Nairobi Orchestra
Leader-Julie Taylor, Saprano-Doreen Ziegler, Tenor-Jamie Munn, Bass-Alex Tyler and Conductor-Tony Davies

About The Seasons:
Love at first sight – well, at first hearing! That was our reaction to Haydn’s last great work, The Seasons, composed in 1804, two years before his death. Written after his better-known oratorio Creation, The Seasons similarly and dazzlingly celebrates the gift of creation, this time by depicting the lives of villagers as they go through the annual round of rural life: sowing and planting, harvesting, the pleasures of rain and sunshine, of the grapes, of hunting, of fancies of love (and of outwitting an unwanted suitor!) and always praising God for His wonders.

The choral and orchestral writing is full of colour, subtlety and wit, as Haydn describes in music all sorts of events – raindrops, thunderstorms, sunrise, hunting scenes, the village dance and its noisy band. We hear frogs and birds and all sorts of creatures. There are magnificent fugues, dramatic choruses and tender lyrical ones also. The solos range from describing the scenes and people (the ploughman, the shepherd) to expressing inner emotions and thoughts. We are exceptionally fortunate to have superb soloists whose voices also work wonderfully well together in their trios and duets. Much of what is written for them is very operatic in style, reflecting Haydn’s extensive experience as an operatic composer.

The challenges of the work mean that these performances are the first in Kenya! We found it irresistible and hope you will also.

Please call 0724 259 842 if you have any questions or if you are interested in bringing  a school party or similar group.