Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons — four violin concertos, each conceived around a distinctive seasonal sonnet — are among the most famous pieces of Western Classical Music ever penned. As purely instrumental works, these pieces are an early example of programmatic music, or music that tells a story.
Tonight, the stories are told by four violinists, Artur Girsky, Natasha Bazhanov, Maria Sampen and Timothy Christie. Each will take a solo turn, and each will play within the accompanying quartet, resulting in violas and violins flying in all directions like the famous North Wind that brings the whole cycle to a close.
There will be food available for purchase… maybe a Pizza Quattro Stagioni or Four Seasons Pizza!
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, La primavera (Spring)
I. Allegro
II. Largo e pianissimo sempre
III. Allegro pastorale
Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, L'estate (Summer)
I. Allegro non molto
II. Adagio e piano – Presto e forte
III. Presto
Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, L'autunno (Autumn)
I. Allegro
II. Adagio molto
III. Allegro
Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, L'inverno (Winter)
I. Allegro non molto
II. Largo
III. Allegro
Artists: Natasha Bazhanov, violin; Timothy Christie, violin/viola; Artur Girsky, violin; Rowena Hamill, cello; Maria Sampen, violin/viola