© Opera e Lirica Srl The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi in Milan
Milan, Auditorium San Fedele
About the Event
Music representing the moods of the four seasons has always been popular, and baroque composers such as Werner and Fischer among others produced cycles of concertos representing the fours seasons. But none were to do so in such precise pictorial detail as Antonio Vivaldi in his Four Seasons concerto!
The whole Baroque epoch showed a deep interest in the amazing natural changes determined by the seasons. Bernini itself represented them in its fine sculptures. Baroque art has a dramatic conception of the relationship between man and nature and between man and the universe. Galileo’s discoveries brought about a shift in the position of man, who was no longer at the center of the cosmos. As a consequence, a new attitude of awe and wonder towards the power of nature emerged.
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons are a symbol of his era. Not only is the feeling of astonishment conveyed by his spectacular description of nature, but also by his musical language. The composition aims at astounding the listener with unusual melodies, created through increased rhythm and higher harmonic contrast. His music is thus freer, more fluid and able to better describe the story it wishes to narrate. The scenes range from the chirp of different birds in spring, to summer storms, from fleeing foxes in autumn, to teeth chattering and rain pouring down in winter. In accordance with the highest expression of baroque concepts, nature is dramatized, and the audience feels actively involved in the rapid succession of events taking place in the work of art.
Witness the evocative power of Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' in the prestigious and refined Auditorium San Fedele in Milan. The most famous of Vivaldi’s works, and revolutionary example of Italian Baroque music, performed by Opera e Lirica Academy strings quintet and harpsichord.
AUDITORIUM SAN FEDELE
The Auditorium San Fedele in Milan is one of the city's most original and refined cultural venues. Located in the historic center, just a few steps from Palazzo Marino and the Duomo, it is much more than just a concert hall. Inaugurated in the 1950s as part of the Jesuit complex, the space stands out for its sober yet avant‐garde architecture and is famous not only for its shell‐shaped structure, which guarantees an optimal view from every seat, but above all for its excellent acoustics. In fact, the Auditorium houses the only mobile Acusmonium in Italy: a sound projection system consisting of dozens of speakers of different sizes and timbres. The aim was to create a ‘sound control room’ in the space, allowing the listener to be literally immersed in the music. This technology has made it a Milanese landmark not only for classical music but also for experimental and contemporary electronic music, cinema, and contemporary art.
Program
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto F XI No.4 in A Major, Allegro molto/Andante molto/Allegro
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto “La Rustica” RV 151 in G Major, Presto/Adagio/Allegro
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto RV 127 in D Minor, Allegro/Adagio/Allegro
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto No.1 in E Major, RV 269, “SPRING”, Allegro/Largo/Allegro (Pastorale dance)
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto No.2 in G Minor, RV 315, “SUMMER”, Allegro non molto, Allegro/Adagio‐Presto‐Adagio/Presto (Summer Storm)
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto No.3 in F Major, RV 293, “AUTUMN”, Allegro (Peasant Dance and Song)/Adagio molto (Sleeping Drunkards)/Allegro (The Hunt)
- Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto No.4 in F Minor, RV 297, “WINTER”, Allegro non molto/Largo/Allegro
Cast / Production
Violin soloist and Conductor: Elvin Dhimitri
Strings quintet & Harpsichord
Address
Auditorium San Fedele, Via Ulrico Hoepli, 3/b, Milan, Italy — Google Maps
