jay1051971's Full Review: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons / Kennedy, English CO
There are few classical compositions that successfully reveal such imagery as Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. And what’s even more remarkable, these concertos were composed during the baroque period, one not normally given to poetic overindulgence, and extreme emotional content. But this contemporary of Bach created a collection of violin concertos that still ring with clarity and passion almost 300 years later, as Nigel Kennedy and the English Chamber Orchestra so remarkably demonstrate.
Tracks:
Concerto No.1 in E – “Spring”
1. Allegro
2. Largo
3. Allegro
Concerto No.2 in G minor – “Summer”
4. Allegro non molto
5. Adagio
6. Presto
Concerto No.3 in F – “Autumn”
7. Allegro
8. Adagio molto
9. Allegro
Concerto No.4 in F minor – “Winter”
10. Allegro non molto
11. Largo
12. Allegro
Musicians:
English Chamber Orchestra
Nigel Kennedy – Director and Violinist
Breakdown:
As its name implies, The Four Seasons is a collection of four violin concertos, each providing a musical interpretation of the yearly cycle. Composed in 1725 by the Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, these compositions have become one of the most popular pieces from the baroque era. What is most startling to this listener, is that unlike most other baroque compositions, which tend to be melodically ornate, structurally precise pieces that serve more functional roles, The Four Seasons is, by baroque standards, downright gaudy in its emotionalism. It’s almost as if Vivaldi anticipated his romantic descendants.
Each concerto consists of three short movements, no longer than about five minutes in length. The cycle begins with the concerto often referred to as “spring”. Like the season of renewal and hope, the piece starts out in a very bright and lively manner. There is a strong sense of optimism that one normally associates with spring. The melody is very catchy, and vaguely familiar. The second movement provides contrast to the first movement’s upbeat vibe. Yet, this slow piece does not take on a dark, or moody feel like many down tempo works do. Spring closes with a recap of the first movement, another bright and sunny feeling, which has a harpsichord providing a colorful harmonic backdrop.
“Summer” immediately sets a different tone. The first movement is slow, almost lackadaisical, like the passing of a hot summer day. The movement experiences a few, sudden, change to a vigorous, uptempo section. This back-and-forth provides an increasing level of tension that culminates in a dramatic finish. The second movement begins the same as the first. The slow and deliberate tempo has a soft melodic quality, but keeps getting interrupted by a series of rather ornery interjections. The hints dropped in the first two movements are finally on full display in the final movement, as the movement takes on a bold, assertive mood in full force.
The “Autumn” concerto sounds much like the “spring” concerto. It is bright and celebratory, thankful for a bountiful harvest. It is a festive time to enjoy the fruits of one’s yearlong labors, and this piece reflects that. The second movement of this piece is undoubtedly my favorite of the entire work. This distinctly un-baroque movement oozes with sentimentality and reflection. The violin is used more for sonic effect than melody. The backdrop is a simple broken chord arrangement. The feeling in this movement is a reminder that the year is almost over, the sun is setting, and the leaves are falling. The optimism and rebirth of spring is a distant memory, and now we have a season of decline. With that in mind, the third movement is almost a “one last hurrah”, as it recaps the energetic first movement, only this time, there is a distinct sense of urgency and tension.
And finally, “winter” arrives. It’s cold, and we’re burrowing in for the season to wait for spring. The first movement is a lonely piece that really makes one feel the chill of the first snowfall. The second movement, however, reminds us that there is beauty in the winter season; icicles, powdery snowdrifts, kids playing outside, and so on. The third movement ties it all together and brings the entire cycle to a close in a way that makes one ready to flip back to the first track and experience it all over again.
Overall, The Four Seasons is a timeless piece of music that is easily appreciated by anyone. Nigel Kennedy and the English Chamber Orchestra do a wonderful job of bringing this work to life. Kennedy masterfully handles all the technical and emotional demands of the Vivaldi’s masterpiece. Normally, I am not a huge fan of baroque music (I have a love-hate relationship with the harpsichord), but this recording has really ensnared me. If you are a novice classical music listener, and want to find something to enjoy, then The Four Seasons is for you. As a baroque piece, the structure of the music is easily grasped. The melody is very catchy. Yet it retains many of the subtle and intricate features that would excite the more knowledgeable listener. It is because of that, I give this a rating of five stars.
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This review was part of the “Classical Music Write-Off”, hosted by Yours Truly. Please take a moment to check out the work of the other contributors:
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