In the original 1725 edition, each concerto in The Four Seasons is preceded by an explanatory Italian sonnet, possibly written by Vivaldi himself, with references to specific musical passages.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Vivaldi used string instruments with great creativity to depict natural phenomena like thunder, lightning, hailstorms, shivering cold, and the call of a cuckoo in The Four Seasons.
Cultural Impact
The main tunes of Vivaldi's Four Seasons are so omnipresent that many people can hum them, despite the work's first commercial recording being as late as 1947.
Composition History
Vivaldi's Four Seasons is part of a larger set of twelve violin concertos titled 'Il Cimento dell'Armonia e dell'Inventione', Op. 8.
Performer Biography
Itzhak Perlman, the violinist on this recording, has made two recordings of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, directing from the violin on both occasions.
Recording & Production
This recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons by Itzhak Perlman and the London Philharmonic Orchestra was made in May 1976 at Abbey Road Studios.
Interpretation
Baroque composers, including Vivaldi, often used a form of musical shorthand and expected performers to improvise and add their own ornamentations.
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Vivaldi, A.: 4 Seasons (The) / La Tempesta Di Mare / Il Piacere (Storm at Sea, Pleasure)
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Violin Concerto in D Major, RV 212a; Violin Concerto in C Major, RV 581
