Le quattro stagioni by Vivaldi

The Four Seasons are a group of four violin concerti opening The Contest between Harmony and Invention collection by Antonio Vivaldi. A clergyman and an owner of a fiery head of hair (for which he was nicknamed “The Red Priest”), Vivaldi amazed his contemporaries with ebullient energy. Son of a violinist of Saint Mark’s Basilica, he headed the Venetian Conservatory. At that time it was a shelter for orphans who were taught singing and playing musical instruments. With Vivaldi, the fame of the conservatoire orchestra reached unprecedented heights. His performances gathered crowds of public. Travelling around his native Italy, the composer eagerly absorbed impressions of the nature and life of the common people, and then he conceived the idea to write a musical piece based on those impressions, so that his pupils could play it. He accompanied this cycle with verses intended to help the listeners feel the atmosphere. However, such is the brightness of Vivaldi’s soundscapes that the sensitive ear will hear the music as the author saw it, without the need for additional comment.

Nadezhda Koulygina