THE STORY BEHIND: Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons"

On December 9 & 10, Jaime Laredo and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra will present THE FOUR SEASONS with conductor/violinist Jaime Laredo and oboist Cheryl Bishkoff.

Title: The Four Seasons, op.8
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Last time performed by the Rhode Island Philharmonic: Last performed November 15, 2014 with Larry Rachleff conducting and soloist Jennifer Koh. In addition to a solo violin, this piece is scored for strings.

The Story: In 1725, Antonio Vivaldi published a collection of 12 concertos under the collective title, Il Cimento dell’ Armonia e dell’ Inventione (“The Contest between Harmony and Invention”). The first four of these were Le Quattro Stagioni, or The Four Seasons. Vivaldi, a priest, was also a famous violinist of the time and boasted the title maestro di concerto of the Pio Ospidale della Pietà, a distinguished school of music, and maestro in Italia of the Austrian Count von Morzin (cousin to Haydn’s earliest patron). Il Cimento’s dedication to von Morzin implies that his orchestra had already performed The Four Seasons. Judging by a pirated French edition of The Four Seasons and early reports of French performances, these concertos must have had the same immediate appeal for 18th-century listeners as they do today.
       
Instrumental music as literally programmatic as The Four Seasons was rare in the 18th century. These four violin concertos are based on a set of Italian sonnets, possibly written by Vivaldi himself. In the score, the composer indicates exactly which line or phrase of the poem is being illustrated. In general, the full orchestra reflects general text, while the solo violin illustrates pictorial detail. Here is a summary of The Four Seasons:
       
Spring. I. Birds sing and fountains flow, but there is also the sound of thunder and lightning. II. A goatherd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him. III. To the sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs and shepherds dance.
       
Summer. I. The blazing sun sears the earth, but the songs of the cuckoo, dove, and goldfinch can be heard. Thunderstorms threaten. II. The shepherd’s sleep is disturbed by distant thunder and the buzz of insects. III. Lightning erupts, and hail stones pelt the ripened corn.
       
Autumn. I. Peasants celebrate the harvest with song, dance, and drink — and many revelers sink into sleep. II. Drunkards sleep amid gentle breezes.  III. The hunt mingles the sounds of horns, guns, dogs, and shouting hunters. The prey flees but at last is caught.
       
Winter. I. We shiver and stamp our feet against the icy wind, but our teeth chatter nonetheless. II. We enjoy the comfort of an open fire while the rain patters outside. III. Walking on the ice is treacherous. Trying to maintain balance, one pitches and falls to the ground. The ice cracks, while all the winds engage in battle.

Program Notes by Dr. Michael Fink © 2022 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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