In the spirit of the season and the timely break from school, here is a very famous tune with which practically everyone is familiar -- this piece is among the few that to most people are representative of "classical music." However, unlike my thoughts on several others in this category, my opinion of this concerto is that it deserves its status. It is a masterfully crafted work that not only perfectly creates the effect the composer intended but to an extent helped define a form. Furthermore, I think it somewhat epitomizes Vivaldi's mastery of stringed instruments and the textures they can employ.
The Berlin Philharmonic under the famous Herbert von Karajan gives a rendition that I think does the piece justice in this recording. I haven't heard of the soloist before but I actually really like her performance -- she handles passages that remain technically challenging in modern times with apparent (if not genuine) ease and grace, and most importantly, makes her violin sing -- the capability so exalted by Vivaldi in his compositions and by the Baroque Italian musical community in general (as is also evident in Stradivarius' violin-making paradigm -- I'm not sure but I wouldn't be surprised if that's what the soloist is playing).
It's also very notable that there even is the role of a "soloist" that is so characteristic of more recent concertos given the piece's baroque nature. This actually contributed to the movement towards that later defining attribute of the form, which I think was a great step. I think there needs to be some way for the skills of a virtuoso and the power with which they endow their instrument to be utilized while still forming part of a much larger and more ambitious work.
Here is a recording suggested in the comments on period instruments, with all 3 movements. It is definitely more baroque in style in pretty much every way, a different (definitely more accurate) take on baroque music that's generally fallen into obscurity in modern times. I personally enjoy these kinds of recordings but I can understand that it's not the most aesthetically pleasing interpretation.
7 comments:
Oh cool--von Karajan on basso continuo! That's nice.
I thought this was a pretty good version, too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPST_D89EWY
Thanks, dad. Very artistic. These people really "get it."
This is even better!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll41Kpqhv6A&feature=related
No, not you too, mom! This is way out of hand!
Four Seasons is only a small section from "Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione". The other 8 concertos in the set are eaqually as good, but have nothing to do with the seasons. My favorite is RV253 "La tempesta di mare".
I sometimes think modern orchestras tend to distort baroque music into "musak". Check out this recording on period instruments. Maybe not as pretty but has a lot of character and is in correct pitch and group size.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oil--k783Nc&feature=PlayList&p=DC429C8CFEF21B89&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=40
Paul -- thanks so much for the recording. It's definitely much more baroque, though I contend that dubbing the modern treatment "musak" is a bit harsh. I do appreciate the fact that it is (as you mentioned) in correct pitch and group size though... that definitely seems like a bigger deal than whether it's on period instruments to me. I also like the fact that they seem to adhere more closely to the terraced dynamics that would have been the standard of the day, and I agree that the more fluid interpretation sounds cheesy sometimes.
Oh yeah also thanks for not being like my parents and putting random crappy things
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