Description
Antonio Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons) - Audio CD
Product Information
- UPC: 745099615826
- Catalog Number: 4509-96158-2
- Product Type: Audio CD, Stereo
- Genre: Classical
- Style: Baroque
- Label: TELDEC
- Country: Germany
- Released: 1994
Overview
“Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons)” features the acclaimed Italian Baroque ensemble Il Giardino Armonico, renowned for their vibrant and historically informed performances. This album presents Antonio Vivaldi’s most famous and beloved work—a captivating musical journey through the four seasons of the year. Composed between 1718 and 1720, during Vivaldi’s tenure as court chapel master in Mantua, these four violin concertos stand as a pinnacle of Baroque musical expression and programmatic storytelling.
Originally published in 1725 in Amsterdam as part of the collection Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione (The Contest Between Harmony and Invention), The Four Seasons innovatively combines virtuosic violin passages with vivid musical depictions of nature’s changing moods—from the gentle warmth of spring and the fiery intensity of summer, to the crisp chill of autumn and the biting cold of winter. Each concerto is accompanied by a sonnet, believed to be written by Vivaldi himself, which guides the listener through the imagery portrayed in the music. This recording by Il Giardino Armonico captures the spirited energy, intricate textures, and expressive nuances that define Vivaldi’s masterpiece. Their use of period instruments and historically informed techniques brings authenticity and brilliance to the performance, immersing listeners in the colorful sound world of the early 18th century.
Product Features
- Format: Stereo Audio CD
- Total Length: Approximately 60:47
- Performance Style: Baroque Chamber Orchestra
- Instrumentation: Period Instruments
Interesting Facts
- Programmatic Music: Each concerto musically depicts a season, with specific musical techniques mimicking natural sounds like bird calls, storms, and pastoral scenes.
- Historical Significance: These concertos are considered among the earliest and most famous examples of programmatic music in Western classical tradition.
- Innovative Composition: Vivaldi included sonnets with each concerto describing the musical imagery, making the work a multi-sensory artistic experience.
Track Listing
- Spring (Concerto No. 1 in E Major)
- Summer (Concerto No. 2 in G Minor)
- Autumn (Concerto No. 3 in F Major)
- Winter (Concerto No. 4 in F Minor)
Publishers
Published by TELDEC. All rights reserved under catalog number 4509-96158-2.
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Hashtags
English:
#Vivaldi #FourSeasons #BaroqueMusic #ClassicalMusic #IlGiardinoArmonico
