3 Questions to.. Paul McCreesh!

Passionate, English conductor Paul McCreesh started a new English translation of the “Seasons” in early 2010, both to do justice to Haydn and to rediscover James Thomson’s original literary work. 

Why a new translation?
McCreesh: In order to do justice to Haydn, but also to the poetry popular in 18th century Europe. «The Seasons», by Scotch poet James Thomson, has been translated into numerous languages, but it was unfortunately poorly served by German librettist Baron Gottfried van Swieten, to the extent that the oratorio is almost… unsingable!

A delicate task?
McCreesh: Of course it is a delicate task, Haydn composed the music based on the libretto he received; I was forced to work in the reverse manner, starting from the melody in order to find the appropriate words. My focus was continually on the ease of singing the text.

But perhaps the audience at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival would prefer the original German version, despite its evident weaknesses?
McCreesh: English is, of course, a universal language! And it is also my native language, which allows me to constantly tweek it. The result has developed and matured since the first public performance in 2012.