© DRESDNER RESIDENZ KONZERTE Vivaldi – The Four Seasons
Kassel, Kreuzkirche — Main
About the Event
Antonio Vivaldi's world‐famous cycle The Four Seasons is one of the most impressive sound paintings in music history. In four concertos, the composer tells of the awakening of spring, the shimmering heat of summer, the festive sounds of autumn, and the quiet cold of winter. Each concerto is a musical painting full of color, energy, and poetic observations of nature.
In addition to the famous Four Seasons, works from Boccherini to Mozart will be presented in the first part of the concert.
Practical Information
The concert hall in the Wallpavillon is located on the upper level of the Dresden Zwinger Palace opposite the Glockenspiel Pavilion. One path leads up from the inner courtyard of the Zwinger via curved steps. The second path leads from Theaterplatz over a small rampart — located to the right of the restaurant & Café Alte Meister / Theaterplatz 1a and opposite the left side of the Semperoper Dresden — to the upper level. There are three sandstone steps to climb. On concert days, signs will guide you to us.
Due to the historical construction, the toilets and the concert hall are not barrier‐free but only accessible via steps.
Dresdner Zwinger
The Dresdner Zwinger is a Baroque palace in Dresden, Germany. Designed by court architect Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann, the Zwinger was the perfect venue for an orangery, festival arena and exhibition gallery for the princely court. The location was originally part of the city's fortress, the wall of which is still perfectly preserved. The Zwinger is now a famous complex of museums that includes the Old Masters Gallery, the Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments, and the Dresden Porcelain Collection. The Dresdner Zwinger also hosts marvellous classical concerts, featuring international artists and conductors.
Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi went down in history as a creator of the instrumental concert genre and the father of orchestral music. He was born in Venice on the 4th of March 1678. Vivaldi was a weak and sickly child suffering from asthma, however could not stop him from devoting himself completely to music. His father, Giovanni Batista a professional violinist, taught his elder son Antonio to play the violin. With his father young Antonio met the best musicians of Venice of that time and gave concerts in local churches. He also worked as a violin teacher and later as a music director at the orphanage Ospedalle della Pieta. Meanwhile he composed concertos, sacred works and vocal music and in 1713 he achieved great recognition with his sacred choral music. Vivaldi got captivated by the world of opera and worked both as opera composer and impresario at the Teatro San Angelo. In 1717 he obtained a prestigious position by the prince court in Manua as a director of secular music and worked there until around 1720. During that time he composed his world-renowned masterpiece The Four Seasons. In the 1730's his career dwindled as his music became unfashionable and the great composer died in poverty. It took the world two centuries to rediscover and reevaluate Vivaldi’s music, as it was buried into oblivion after his death. In the early 20th century many previously unknown works were found and immediately captured the hearts of the music lovers.
Address
Kreuzkirche, Luisenstraße 13, Kassel, Germany — Google Maps
