The Four Seasons by Vivaldi in Madrid
Madrid, El Ateneo de Madrid – Cátedra Mayor
About the Event
Witness the evocative power of Antonio Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' performed by strings quintet and harpsichord in the extraordinary location of Cátedra Mayor of Ateneo de Madrid.
The most famous of Vivaldi’s works, and a revolutionary example of Italian Baroque music.
Music representing the moods of the four seasons has always been popular, and Baroque composers such as Werner and Fischer among others produced cycles of concertos representing the fours seasons. But none were to do so in such precise pictorial detail as Antonio Vivaldi in his Four Seasons concerto.
The whole Baroque epoch showed a deep interest in the amazing natural changes determined by the seasons. Bernini itself represented them in its fine sculptures. Baroque art has a dramatic conception of the relationship between man and nature and between man and the universe. Galileo’s discoveries brought about a shift in the position of man, who was no longer at the center of the cosmos. As a consequence, a new attitude of awe and wonder towards the power of nature emerged.
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons are a symbol of his era. Not only is the feeling of astonishment conveyed by his spectacular description of nature, but also by his musical language. The composition aims at astounding the listener with unusual melodies, created through increased rhythm and higher harmonic contrast. His music is thus freer, more fluid and able to better describe the story it wishes to narrate. The scenes range from the chirp of different birds in Spring, to Summer storms, from fleeing foxes in Autumn, to teeth chattering and rain pouring down in Winter. In accordance with the highest expression of baroque concepts, nature is dramatized, and the audience feels actively involved in the rapid succession of events taking place in the work of art.
Program
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto F XI No.4 in A Major, Allegro molto/Andante molto/Allegro
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto “La Rustica” RV 151 in G Major, Presto/Adagio/Allegro
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto RV 127 in D Minor, Allegro/Adagio/Allegro
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto No.1 in E Major, RV 269, “SPRING”, Allegro/Largo/Allegro (Pastorale dance)
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto No.2 in G Minor, RV 315, “SUMMER”, Allegro non molto, Allegro/Adagio‐Presto‐Adagio/Presto (Summer Storm)
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto No.3 in F Major, RV 293, “AUTUMN”, Allegro (Peasant Dance and Song)/Adagio molto (Sleeping Drunkards)/Allegro (The Hunt)
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto No.4 in F Minor, RV 297, “WINTER”, Allegro non molto/Largo/Allegro
Cast / Production
Violin soloist and Conductor: Elvin Dhimitri
Strings quintet
Harpsichord
Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi went down in history as a creator of the instrumental concert genre and the father of orchestral music. He was born in Venice on the 4th of March 1678. Vivaldi was a weak and sickly child suffering from asthma, however could not stop him from devoting himself completely to music. His father, Giovanni Batista a professional violinist, taught his elder son Antonio to play the violin. With his father young Antonio met the best musicians of Venice of that time and gave concerts in local churches. He also worked as a violin teacher and later as a music director at the orphanage Ospedalle della Pieta. Meanwhile he composed concertos, sacred works and vocal music and in 1713 he achieved great recognition with his sacred choral music. Vivaldi got captivated by the world of opera and worked both as opera composer and impresario at the Teatro San Angelo. In 1717 he obtained a prestigious position by the prince court in Manua as a director of secular music and worked there until around 1720. During that time he composed his world-renowned masterpiece The Four Seasons. In the 1730's his career dwindled as his music became unfashionable and the great composer died in poverty. It took the world two centuries to rediscover and reevaluate Vivaldi’s music, as it was buried into oblivion after his death. In the early 20th century many previously unknown works were found and immediately captured the hearts of the music lovers.
Customer Reviews
5.0 of 5
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Eugenie N, USA
Sep 2024
Much enjoying concert.
Address
El Ateneo de Madrid – Cátedra Mayor, C. del Prado 21 , Madrid, Spain — Google Maps
