The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons (Le Quattro Stagioni in Italian) is a group of four violin concertos that depict the different seasons of the year. They were written by Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi in around 1720, and published in 1725. It wasn’t written for any particular person.
Each concerto was written to depict sonnets about each season. Vivaldi is widely known to have written these sonnets himself, and published these along with the music. The Four Seasons was one of the earliest and most detailed examples of program music - music that had a narrative element.
The sonnet that was based on Movement 1 of Summer:
Each concerto was written to depict sonnets about each season. Vivaldi is widely known to have written these sonnets himself, and published these along with the music. The Four Seasons was one of the earliest and most detailed examples of program music - music that had a narrative element.
The sonnet that was based on Movement 1 of Summer:
L'Estate |
Summer |
The Four Seasons appealed especially to the French at that time, with King Louis XV being one of it’s biggest fans. He enjoyed ‘Spring’ so much that he would often order it to be performed at the drop of a hat.
The first of Vivaldi’s works ever to be recorded was The Four Seasons, in 1942. It featured Bernardino Molinari playing along St Cecelia Academy of Rome. Later on, Nigel Kennedy and the English Chamber Orchestra in 1989 recorded their own version, using modern instruments. This recording soared in popularity and was played on radios all over the world, hitting the pop charts. It subsequently became the best-selling classical recording of all time.
The first of Vivaldi’s works ever to be recorded was The Four Seasons, in 1942. It featured Bernardino Molinari playing along St Cecelia Academy of Rome. Later on, Nigel Kennedy and the English Chamber Orchestra in 1989 recorded their own version, using modern instruments. This recording soared in popularity and was played on radios all over the world, hitting the pop charts. It subsequently became the best-selling classical recording of all time.